The art of wooden inlay, or marquetry, was born in Tuscany during the Renaissance. It consisted in creating geometric or figurative designs on furniture, by preparing spaces into which were glued small pieces of wood of various colours and types. In the Neoclassical period, the cabinet-makers were capable of works of great beauty and value, through developing their exceptional ability in placing these pieces of wood. They were inserted into a background of a precious material, in order to create figures or ornamental designs. In Italy, it was the neoclassical furniture-makers from Lombardy and Piedmont who continued producing these works until well into the nineteenth century. Out of all the Neoclassical furniture-makers, the indisputable 'Prince of Marquetry' was the cabinet-maker Giuseppe Maggiolini. This man distinguished himself making chest of drawers, cabinets and small tables, on which he himself composed the ornamental designs, or in collaboration with the celebrated artists of the times such as Appiani, Levati and Piermarini. The decorations they made included flowers, figures and landscapes, that drew acclaim from far and wide for their exceptional inlay techniques. Maggiolini created his most precious items of furniture using a palette of more than eighty different kinds of wood. The Lombardy aristocracy of the times competed amongst themselves to possess a work created by this artist, or at least and imitation produced by the other marquetry workshops. Our company has continued to produce hand-made marquetry up to the present day. This work adds value to furniture, in respect of the tradition.

Having first created the design, the craftsman makes a careful choice of woods, using a variety of colour hues to obtain striking effects of light and shade.

Once the various pieces that make up the inlay have been cut to shape some of them are placed in hot sand,the resulting singeing giving shading and three dimensional effects that are unique to the particular item. This process ensures that the floral motifs and scenes come to life in the surface of our products, the fruit of patient and meticulous craftsmanship.