These wonderful pictures in style of marquetry are done by Alan Townsend from Chelmsford, United Kingdom.

After leaving school Alan Townsend started work at a piano making factory and after about a year and a half he was given the opportunity to help out in the veneer shop as a trainee veneer preparer.

Alan says about himself in that time:

“ It was there that I saw my first piece of marquetry being made by the old guy who eventually showed me the basics of veneer preparing.

Having seen his attempts at a very simple picture I decided if I could not do better then maybe I should change my trade!!!

After several attempts my very simple pictures, completed during lunch and tea breaks, became quite popular among fel­low workers.

I started making about one a week and selling at ten shillings each (That shows my age).

Chessboards, cribbage boards soon followed and even a fire screen with a kingfisher on it laid with Scotch glue and pressure applied with a toolbox! ”

Alan Townsend founded the “Chelmsford Marquetry Group”. From an initial group of six people in Alan’s front room a Committee was formed and the Group was started in 1984.

Source:

www.marquetry.org

chelmsford-marquetry-group.org.uk

Categories: marquetry

