Straw Marquetry

The Craft

Straw marquetry is the application of straw veneers to an object, furniture, structure or tile to form a decorative design or pattern. It’s a centuries-old craft that originated in the East and was first brought to England in the 1600’s. In more recent years the craft has undergone something of a renaissance and is now very much back in vogue with interior designers, furniture makers and craftsmen.

The Material

I use imported rye straw from Burgundy, France that is cultivated and harvested in a traditional way. It’s available in a wide spectrum of colours that make it and incredibly versatile and exciting medium to work with.
The straw has a natural varnish formed from plant silica so is incredibly shiny, water-resistant and durable. The beauty of the straw is that depending on where the light hits it, a multitude of hues are created.

The Process

The straw marquetry process is labour intensive. It involves taking untreated bundles of rye straw which is first washed and then dyed. Once dry, the stem of straw is split, scrapped and flattened many times into a ribbon. Each individual straw ribbon is then meticulously inlaid edge to edge on either wood or paper. The end result is a glistening surface that plays with and reflects light and colour like nothing else. It’s simply beautiful.