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Autumn Marquetarian

The front cover of the Autumn 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 Autumn 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 Autumn 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 Autumn edition of the Marquetarian.

For instance, there’s a very useful article about how this year's Rosebowl winning picture was made. if you want a guide of how to go about producing a Rosebowl winning exhibit, this is not a bad place to start. Well worth a read.

This year saw the introduction of new display stands for the exhibits. They were produced by Alan Townsend of the Chelmsford Group in his workshop. And a jolly nice job Alan made of them too. Check them out.

Marquetry from Bilbao will really interest those of you who reside on the Continent. It shows that marquetry is indeed very healthy in Northern Spain. The extremely high quality of the work they produce is amazing. there's sure some talent residing over there. That's for sure.

Assembling a 60 year old marquetry kit is a very interesting article. this is where one of our Staffs Group members was presented with a marquetry kit from around the late 1950s, and was challenged to make something of it. Of course, this was a challenge not to be missed. Happily a photographic record of the build was put together and sent to your editor to form it into an interesting article, which was duly done. Well worth a read this one; the end result is very encouraging for such an old kit.

You are never too old is an article about one of our over ninety year old members who is still producing quality marquetry at a rate well into his nineties. He insists that it is the marquetry itself which is keeping him and his brain fully active. And, from looking at his work we can well believe him!

And don't forget that the 2023 Gallery puts in it's first appearance in this edition, this is along with the three judges' comments and notes to accompany the pictures. Rather interesting to see what the judges' made of each exhibit.

An article titled 'Gotcha' will very much interest those of you venturing into computer adapted marquetry, especially if you are using a laser cutter. The 'old school' certainly do frown on these new elements to the ancient craft (or art as it is now being recognised by many) but it does go to show just what these new adventures into the marquetry world can produce when given the chance. Perhaps this is a vision into marquetry's future - who knows? All things are possible.

Happily, we have found an entire half page of space (carefully done for a well filled autumn 284th 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 22 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!.





Contents 284

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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