The home
of
Marquetry
top border
Keeping
the best
Standards

article title

society logo

MARQUETARIANS
A few words for 2013 from your President

Being asked to take the top position in any organisation is an honour and a responsibility. When that organisation has been around for longer than one's own lifetime, and is well-respected around the globe, rather more so.

I hope I will serve the Society well and should you think that is not the case at any time – please tell me!

As I noted last year, the Society is at an interesting time. Over recent years both membership and the number of competitive entries to our Annual Exhibitions have been rather variable.

However, the latter has shown a dramatic turnaround recently, with a notable resurgence amongst our Independent members. In particular our members from outside the UK have gone to considerable effort and expense to support our exhibitions and allow us to see their work first hand – and we are the richer for that.

2012 was our Diamond Jubilee and I congratulate our Chelmsford Group on the excellent exhibition they hosted for us. This year the show moves North, to my own Group in Staffordshire, and I look forward to meeting many Society members and friends during the week of the Show.

As always the most important thing is for all our members to enjoy their marquetry and your Executive Committee is here to help you achieve that. If you have a question or problem please address it to the appropriate officer.

However, if you would like to contact me here in my Ivory Tower please do so.

Happy cutting!

Quentin Smith President
 
Quentin Smith
our President from June 2011


MEMBERS OF THE MARQUETRY SOCIETY


A message for 2013 from your Chairman

Peter White Chairman

Peter White
our Chairman from
June 2007

You know, I feel very positive about the well being of the Marquetry Society right now. Although we suffer the inevitable loss of members each year, we have also welcomed many newcomers into the fold. It may be that, more so than in previous years, many of them join as independent members rather than members of an affiliated group.

I’m sure that, if it were practicably possible for them they would, but there will be good reasons why they can’t. The ever increasing cost of travel must be a factor and for some, driving distances in the evening can be a problem.

Most groups I know would be happy to welcome along these Independents on an occasional basis and the benefits of this would be twofold. The opportunity to pick up ideas and watch others at work, maybe purchase some veneers and enjoy the sociability is obvious.

But this in turn stimulates the host group members as well, and perpetuates the wider interest in marquetry.

Thankfully, with the wealth of information on our website, the depths of which are well worth plumbing, and the eagerly awaited Marquetarian, which I feel has remained a real quality read, we have so much to hold our interest and enthuse us. However, this very accessibility may have contrived to lower the number of newcomers becoming group members. I think it may be a factor, but it is a trend we should accept as an inevitable shift and not see as a negative.

Interest worldwide has grown terrifically in just the last year, which I am sure is down to Alan encouraging overseas marquetarians to contribute to the website. Just click on ‘The World of Marquetry’ from our homepage and explore for yourself. To all our overseas friends, I would like to thank you personally for supporting Alan and for your contributions.

I wonder if the time is right for a resurgence of interest in the arts and crafts. Those of us already hooked, know the benefits and pleasures of creating something with our own hands: something that will live on, long after we have gone. My hope is that, as long as we keep exhibiting our work and see it displayed in our magazine and on this website, we will stimulate the creative urges of those wishing to break out from hand fed entertainment, to become marquetarians themselves.

My thanks to all my fellow committee members and marquetry friends around the world for keeping me feeling positive about what we do, and what we stand for.

Peter White January 31st 2013

And now meet your Web Secretary

A message of welcome from our friendly Web Sec


Hello. My name is David Walker and I am the Secretary of the Redbridge Group in East London.

I am now officially the Web Secretary of the Marquetry Society since the 2012 AGM which was held after the National Exhibition at Ingatestone Hall. I say officially because for about two and a half years I have been answering queries that are sent to the web site from all over the world on behalf of the Society. I started answering these Emails to take some of the weight from Alan our web master who found difficulty in answering them in reasonable time due to his commitments in producing the Marquetarian and compiling updates for the Society and Redbridge Web sites.

He was getting overwhelmed by sheer weight of enquiries so I offered to do it on his behalf. He arranged for all such enquiries to come to our Society address using our 1 and 1 Web Mail arrangements. Since then I have been privileged to receive marquetry enquiries from USA, UK, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Spain, Norway, Libya, Turkey, Russia, Australia, New Zealand just to name but a few!

David Walker
David Walker
Our Web Secretary from
July 2012

Since I started doing this in October 2009 I have replied to around two thousand or more such enquiries. It’s something that I enjoy doing because it makes me think marquetry and often I find myself having to do some research before replying. My sources are the internet, current members more knowledgeable than myself, books by, Bill Lincoln, Alan Townsend and David Middleton, Silas Kopf to name a few and also past Marquetarian magazines which are a mine of information.

A lot of enquiries have been coming from the USA from ex Service personnel or their families asking to identify pictures made by Buchschmid and Greataux in Heidelberg, which they took home after serving in Germany or Iceland 40 or 50 years ago. In answering these ‘B & G’ enquiries with Alan we seem to have become the world’s leading experts on their work (only because we’ve not been able to find anyone else to assist us after the last member of the company had passed away!).

My own pedigree as far as marquetry is concerned started in 1981 at the Woodworker show at Wembley. I was on sick leave recovering from a broken leg received whilst on duty in the Metropolitan Police in London. It had improved to such an extent that I was able to get about on crutches and seeing an advert about the show decided to go along as I was interested in woodwork. Whilst there I happened upon a stall exhibiting marquetry being run by the Harrow Group and was pounced on by the one and only Charlie Good. As a result, I joined up there and then and have progressed through the ranks in a mediocre fashion until I reached the Premier Class.

Over the years I have gained quite a bit of knowledge and experience and am happy to share that with anyone who cares to contact us. If I can’t answer the enquiry I pass it to other members who I think can help. I work very closely with Alan our web master, who is doing a wonderful job creating, updating and producing the web sites and compiling the Marquetarian.

I am quite happy holding this post but have had to decline becoming Secretary of the Society, having been asked to consider it, because a lot of my time is taken up in leading a church and as secretary of the Redbridge Group as well as family commitments, which take me up to Scotland quite regularly. I am under instructions not to take any more administration work by ‘she who must be obeyed’! So I will let someone else take over from Neil Micklewright who has fulfilled the post so admirably.

I look forward, maybe, to corresponding with some of you via Email in the future.

David Walker, January 31st 2013

A letter from your Hon. Secretary
An overview from our most genial Hon Sec
(Please note that due to circumstances Neil has reluctantly had to resign
the post of Hon. Secretary from July 2012. Neil's letter will remain here
to highlight what grand work he did for us during his tenure in the post.
It will only be replaced when a new Hon. Sec. is finally appointed.)


Dear All

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Alan Mansfield, our webmaster, and his team at Redbridge, London for all their work in producing our website. Since Alan took charge the site has gone from strength to strength to become what you see today - the premier site for all things marquetry. This is made possible by you our visitors sending in your queries and information.

As Secretary I receive a number of enquiries about the benefits of becoming a member of the Society. If you are new to marquetry and live within reach of one of our affiliated groups they will provide all the help you need to get you started. If you do not live near to a group then your option is to become an independent member.

Approximately half of our membership comes under the umbrella of being independent and they are happy to belong as such. They also have a voice in the Society’s affairs.

Regarding training, our DVDs are becoming popular and there are more in the pipeline. Additionally we can arrange for face to face training sessions and will put them on if the demand is there.


Neil Micklewright

Neil Micklewright
Our Hon Sec
from mid 2008 to mid 2012

Other enquiries include educational establishments looking for marquetry teachers which we have provided. We have participated in VAN (Voluntary Arts Network) projects promoting voluntary arts and crafts.

The list of enquiries goes on and is increasing in both the number and range of topics. So please keep them coming. I can guarantee a reply from either Alan or myself. It all goes to promote marquetry in all its forms which is why the Society was formed in the first place.

Thank you for your time in reading this letter


Neil Micklewright,  Hon. Secretary.

..................................................................................................................

DVD OFFERS

Five Superb Special Offers!: Offer 1: The Publicity Dept of the Marquetry Society is now making available for purchase a DVD of our 2012 International Marquetry Exhibition. This includes a 'tour' round the historic location along with a gallery of all the award winning exhibits.

The DVD’s are a fantastic reference library of the very best examples from today's marquetry that you will be pleased to own.
The photography is all in high quality JPEG format and is available in a universal format.

The DVD’s are currently available at £10.00 each (UK) - USA members, please contact Joe Monks. Other countries please contact Peter for a price.

Offer 2: We also have an excellent "Marquetry Techniques & Tips" DVD available at £10.00 (UK) & $20.00 (USA)

Offer 3: And another superb DVD "Geometric Marquetry The Easy Way" also available at £10.00 (UK) & $20.00 (USA)

Offer 4: And yet another superb DVD "Alan Townsend Presents" is also available at £10.00 (UK) & $20.00 (USA)

Offer 5: And a very special DVD "Artistic Considerations & Veneer Choice in Marquetry" is also available. Please contact Peter for prices.

To purchase a copy of either DVD please contact our Publicity Dept by simply e-mailing your requirements to: peter@marquetry.org - (or if using Windows Mail, Outlook Express, etc, click here: peter@marquetry.org )

USA members -
please order your DVD through our USA representative Mr J. Monks (contact details on our Marquetry Society page)

..................................................................................................................

To contact the Marquetry Society Web Site please click this e-mail link: Web Site

..................................................................................................................

If you would like more details on The Marquetry Society, contact: 

The Hon. General Secretary

At the moment we are pending a new Hon. Sec. Appointment

For the time being please use the following email link to contact us:

click here to e mail our Admin Team

or type: info@marquetry.org

The Membership Secretary

Ken Southall
Aspen Cottage
Nettlestead
Ipswich
Suffolk, IP8 4QT

Tel: +44 (0)1473 831174

click here to e mail Ken


PRINTABLE MEMBERSHIP FORMS:-


For a membership form you can print and then submit to our membership secretary, Ken Southall (address above)
Click here

For a USA and Canada membership form
Click here

.......................................................


You can now apply for membership and pay your subscription online at:

Online Form & Payment Selection Page

(You can also renew your membership & subscription online,
just select 'Renew Subs' on the above selection page)


Subscriptions

Location
To Join
Renewal
UK
£20. 00
£19. 00
Europe
£22. 00
£21. 00
Overseas
£24. 50
£23. 50

If you need a currency converter at the latest rates then click the link below

http://www.xe.net/ucc/full.shtml


Membership of The Marquetry Society includes the quarterly journal with hints, tips, letters, designs and of course the prizewinners from the National. Membership also entitles you to enter the National competition.

Special bank arrangements for USA and Canada

After some months of negotiations with the United States IRS Department, we have been granted Tax Exemption as a "Non Profit Organisation" and can now run a bank account in the USA for American members to pay their dues through. Will all US members and citizens wishing to join the Marquetry Society, please send their forms and checks via;

Mr G J Monks, 8071 Wildflower Way, San Diego, California, CA 92120

Should Canadian members also wish to avail themselves of the slightly preferential rates of currency exchange between US$ and C$, please do so through the same address. 

All general enquiries should be sent via the Membership Secretary Ken Southall in the UK.

Copyright Information

Part 1: General Rules.

It is the policy of the Marquetry Society never to infringe any copyright holder's ownership rights in any way or form by knowingly displaying a copyright protected work on their web site, or in any of their publications, without the consent of the copyright holder.

If a copyright holder feels, however, that we may have compromised their position by inadvertently displaying a piece that may, or could, be viewed as possibly contravening their title of copyright over the work; would they please bring this to our attention by contacting us in the first instance via the e-mail links they will find on this web site.

We will then do our utmost to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, to the complete satisfaction of each party concerned. Any such item thus in dispute shall be removed from the web site while the infringement is being investigated and an appropriate notice shall be displayed in its place until the problem is amicably resolved.

Part 2: Our initial procedures to correctly attribute recognition to the originator of a design.

If any potentially displayable marquetry work gives us grounds to consider that it could (or may) possibly have been copied (in marquetry form) from the original work of another person or artist (in whatever form they had chosen to use) and it has not already been granted permission for use, then the following procedure will be applied by us.

Any works displayed on our website or in any of our publications which could (or may look like it has in our opinion) have potentially been copied in marquetry form and adapted to the marquetry format from a (or any) copyright holder's original work and, despite the marquetarian in question's best efforts to communicate with the said (or any) copyright holder in order to attain permission to reproduce the work in marquetry form, has failed to materialise a response from the (or any) copyright holder, be it that they are no longer contactable using standard procedures, we will do our utmost to attribute appropriately the correct information regarding the original artist or designer (in any form) to the marquetry work in question.

Either of the following wordings will be added to the text accompanying the work in question until the (or any) copyright holder contacts us with whatever appropriate wording they would prefer us to use ('unknown' in these two wordings being a holder word pending communication from the original artist or their representative).

  1. After the work of 'unknown'
  2. Attributed to 'unknown'

This aforementioned procedure will in no way affect the copyright holder's right (as explained in section 1 of these rules above) to request us to remove any work which is in dispute from our website and replace it with appropriate text to explain why the removal has taken place. We are always most happy to comply with a copyright holder's requests on any of our displayed marquetry works which they feel is in dispute regarding their original work.

Part 3: Definition of our exhibits as applied to copyright status.

None of the marquetry works displayed in our exhibition galleries are, or were ever intended to be produced or reproduced for commercial purposes or for profitable gain in any way whatsoever.

Each and every exhibit is hand crafted in the marquetry medium of wood veneers and is intended to be seen and displayed as each respective marquetarian’s interpretation (in the medium of marquetry) of a given or chosen subject as selected by the aforesaid marquetarian.

Every marquetry work displayed in our galleries is produced as a ‘one off’ and is intended to be ultimately retained in its creator’s own personal collection (‘one off’ in this description being a singular piece of work which is not profitably reproducible by commercially viable methods)

Each and every marquetry piece displayed in our galleries will have been made as a labour of love for our marquetry craft and not in any way intended for purposes of a commercial nature. Our exhibition and competition rules forbid the entry of commercial marquetry pieces.

The design chosen by each respective marquetarian will have been chosen as their humble interpretation of a chosen and favoured design to be crafted in the medium of marquetry.

No commercial or profitable or multiple reproductions in marquetry of any design will ever be knowingly displayed in our galleries. If ever such an exhibit was found to have been displayed in any of our galleries, despite our rigorous checks to avoid such things, and this was subsequently brought to our attention, we would immediately (within practical limitations) upon being contacted, remove the offending piece from display on our website and a suitable apology would be displayed in its place.

The Marquetry Society recognises and places great value on respecting copyright holders rights regarding their own work. We will not knowingly set out to cause any dispute and will do all we can to resolve any such issues as quickly as possible to everyone's satisfaction.



Web Site Settings

This web site has been optimised for viewing at 1280 x 800 pixel screen resolution. Other resolutions may expand or contract the content of the pages that you view on screen, however, the layout and general appearance should remain consistent.

The web site has also been optimised for maximum compatibility with the web browser Internet Explorer (using the 'Compatibility View' setting in the very latest versions). It will also operate quite satisfactorily with other popular browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Safari, etc, but some of its functionality may be slightly compromised, such as "pop up comments" and unintended border color effects and/or dimensions. But, basically, it should still prove satisfactory in any browser. Please let us know if you experience any other problems with this site in the particular browser that you favor.


Return to the News Page

Go to Home Page
Go to the Clubs and Groups directory page
Go to the International Galleries directory page
Go to the Marquetry Society official messages page
Go to the National Exhibition Winners Gallery page
Go to the Millennium Mural exhibition page