Marquetry

Although there is no known date for the beginning of this activity on the island, the existence of woodworkers on the island in the 17th century is documented.

By making use of the abundant raw material provided by the island ("vinhático" Persea indica, heather, boxwood, laurel, "til" Ocotea foetens, "barbusano" Apollonias barbujana, among others), the woodworkers had a wide range of tones that allowed them to give Madeira marquetry unique features.

The technique involves carving small pieces of wood with a thin saw, which are then introduced and glued to another piece of wood, where openings have been created with the same profile as the small pieces. Using wood with different shades makes it possible to create intricate designs and patterns.