Founded
in
1952
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Marq 285

The front cover of the Winter issue

The Marquetarian is a veritable mainstay of the Marquetry Society.
As it states on it's front cover, it is the "Journal of The Marquetry Society" and has been in existence in one form or another since the formation of the Society in 1952.

In those early days it was produced as a duplicated sheet (or sheets according to the amount of content) and it was yet to be another couple of years before it was produced in the booklet format we have become so used to.

Those early Marquetarians didn't even contain any illustrations at all except for a small design on the front cover!

The Marquetarian has certainly come a long way since those early days.
Today's magazine is produced to the highest standards that are currently available. Compiled on Mac's and PC's using the latest version of the industry standard "QuarkXpress" publishing software, it is now edited by Alan Mansfield who has recently taken over the mantle from that most respected of erudite Marquetarians Ernie Ives.

Ernie edited the magazine for thirty years, taking over the editorship from Max Newport in the late 1970's. Ernie has edited well over 120 issues of the quarterly produced magazine and has introduced many improvements in that time, notably full colour reproduction of marquetry exhibits and plenty of instructional articles.

Alan certainly intends to do his utmost to keep to those high standards that Ernie set; from the look of this Winter edition, it looks like that goal has been admirably achieved.

There is only one problem with the magazine and it is this; we are afraid that the only way you can get your hands on a copy of The Marquetarian is by becoming a member of the Marquetry Society! it is an exclusive publication after all - and how about this for a recommendation: around 99% of the readers of the Marquetarian keep every issue they have ever received, they never throw them away! how many magazines can you say that about?

So then, let's take a look and see what you will find in the Winter edition of the Marquetarian.

This edition of the Marquetarian features many educational articles we hope you will find fascinating. There is much to read in this latest edition, so let's (as we've just said) take a look at some of those interesting articles you will find inside:

There’s plenty for you to enjoy and learn from in this Winter edition of the Marquetarian.

There are loads for you to check out in this winter edition of The Marquetarian. We have a really packed magazine here that we are sure you are going to enjoy.

For starters there’s the second part of Mike Roberts’ article on the build of this year’s Rosebowl winning piece. If you want to know how to go about producing a Rosebowl qualifying marquetry exhibit yourself, this article is certainly well worth reading.

Want to know how to make a hydraulic marquetry press? Well, look no further, for we have the plans and instructions in this winter issue. It was the brainchild of former editor Ernie Ives, and it is a superb piece of marquetry equipment – a very powerful press.

The 2023 AGM minutes can be found in this winter edition. These give you an insight into the background workings of the Marquetry Society. There’s a lot more going on in the background of our Society to keep it running “like a well-oiled machine” than many of you would credit. We officers certainly work away tirelessly on your behalf to keep the art and craft of marquetry alive.

Want to know more about fragmentation? Well, we have the answers here, just check out the article to find out all about the art of fragmentation, it is fascinating.

Marquetry, is it a true art form? Now there’s a question, what do you think? Our article on this tricky subject is an intriguing read well worth reading. This is a somewhat thorny old question, but we find quite a few answers here. Read it and see if you agree.

A heated marquetry press – now that’s something you probably haven’t considered. But this is an adaption of a commercial heated press which works rather well for marquetry. The professionals use large, heated presses for their veneered furniture work, so why shouldn’t we look at doing the same? It reduces the curing time for the glue considerably. Instead of leaving your work in the press for hours on end, this press can do the job in a fraction of the time. Most of them even have built in timers, a real bonus.

Vic’s tips and our Social Media Officer’s report are well worth checking out. Especially as our Facebook page has taken off so spectacularly. We are getting copious new members of our Facebook fraternity joining that element of our growing influence every day. We just need to convert as many of them as possible to becoming Marquetry Society members proper as we can. But we are working on that.

There’s a strip and stringer cutting jig design here that many will find to be very useful. Quite simple in its design and build but does the job perfectly.

And don’t miss more exhibits from this year’s International Marquetry Exhibition. There’s plenty of beautiful marquetry there for you to enjoy – we think you will like it very much.

Happily, we have found an entire half page of space (carefully done for a well filled winter 285th edition) of our very useful identification chart of veneers. These are all unusual figuring and grain patterns. These veneers are all genuine examples taken from veneers with odd characteristics in our veneer reference library and they are all featured in accurate colours. This series will provide a rather helpful guide for you when comparing veneers for your chosen marquetry project. Part 23 is at last back on schedule (for the time being while we have been able to find a little spare space). Each veneer example featured is taken from accurate scans of the genuine veneers and carefully colour balanced against the actual veneer itself in order to ensure it matches both the printed and true veneer as far as modern technology will allow us.

But, and then again, don't forget our regular 'Readers Letters' 'Chairman's Chatter' 'Independents Corner' and much, much more.

So, as is always the case, we have yet another excellent issue for your perusal!.





Index page 285

The full index of the Marquetarian, from
the earliest issues up to today's,
is available by clicking the
button below:

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Click any of the following links to read the very
first issues of the Marquetarian:


number 1
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