Marquetry of Granada, Spain

The Moors were the first in Spain to cover the surface of furniture and accessories with intricate geometric patterns made of wood, bone, metal, and ivory. This art form has changed very little in Granada since the 14th century.

The 4 pictures below were taken at Laguna Taracea in 2005, which was located in the Alhambra complex at 30 Real de la Alhambra.
Bone, metal, mahogany, ebony, rosewood, and walnut are cut, shaped and glued together along the grain to create symmetrically patterned rods.		Thin cross sections of the rods are carefully sliced. The end grain slices are then arranged and glued in place.	The holes are filled with putty. The surface will next be sanded and sealed.

To add a hinge on a box, the spot is marked . . .		. . .then cut out with a chisel.
The 4 above pictures show Emilio Valdivieso of Artesanias Valdivieso at 41 Cuesta de Gomerez in Granada.

LINKS:
Silva Foundation Workshops, Lisbon, Portugal
Blacksmithing in Andalucia, Spain
Silversmithing in Andalucia, Spain
Metal Spinning in Seville, Spain
Tiles and Ceramics of Talavera de la Reina, Spain
Earthenware Ceramics of Ubeda, Spain
Tiles and Ceramics of Seville, Spain
Monje Ceramics of Lora del Rio, Spain
Sculpture of Seville, Spain
Mexican wood carver, Fernando Giron Pantoja
Mexican marquetry box maker, José Antonio Rodríguez
Haida wood carver, Reg Davidson
Polish wood carver, Jan Piotr Ledwon
Polish wood carver, Czeslaw Olma
Wood carving in Foumban, Cameroon, Africa
Abdou Mfopa of Cameroon
Ga Coffins in Teshie, Ghana

Web page, photographs, and text by Carol Ventura in 2005. Please look at Carol's home page to see more about crafts around the world.