Marquetry is a technique achieved by cutting wood veneer into shapes and piecing them together to create a picture. Parquetry is made by arranging pieces of wood into simple or complex patterns. Both techniques are labor intensive and require advanced skills.
Oshkosh had a thriving lumber industry that began in the mid-1800s. The lumber trade enabled the city to become a haven for woodworkers that produced a variety of wares including furniture and folk art utilizing decorative techniques known as marquetry and parquetry. This exhibition highlights two local artisans (the Kitz Family and Oliver Guhl) and explores the history of this form of woodworking through examples in the Museum’s collection.
On view in the Sawyer Parlor
