There is a style or school of marquetry coming from Costa Rica which is starting to gain a level of prominence that concentrates on the ethereal side of the art, as its own particular addition to the accustomed artisan style we have become so used to.

This style looks at the essential qualities of the material itself and adopts these natural, or organic characteristics, as the bed rock and theme of each individualistic piece of work. As our featured artist states "the wood has its own colors, shapes, textures and fragrances. And, with my art I seek to understand and express the poetry of the wood. For that I use my marquetry".

Such a wonderful sentiment as that we fully endorse. Marquetry and its natural association with the very essence of its existence, the wood itself, needs this spiritual affinity with the extant forces that once occupied the tree from which the timber itself was hewn. This connection with the natural side of the elements from which our materials derive is the essence here of this wonderful work.

Please set aside a few minutes now to enjoy these few examples taken from the work of marquetry artist Francisco Rodriguez.

Francisco resides in Costa Rica and is looking to start a school of marquetry based on the sentiments expressed in his aforementioned statement. We think this is indeed most admirable and we wish Francisco every success with his school and its resultant exquisitely produced delicate marquetry.