Yellow Butterfly Marquetry Box

The 'Yellow Butterfly Marquetry Box' - actually a Monarch butterfly - is an artwork box created by Max Clerteau using the techniques of traditional, dovetail box-making and Marquetry, which is the art of creating a design or image using precision-cut pieces of wood laid onto a base. The artist cuts each small piece of wood by hand, choosing different grains and colours, then glues them into place following his design. Because marquetry is done by hand, patience and precision are required – a single picture can take many hours to complete using fret saws, scroll saws and scalpels to achieve the shapes needed. This piece utilises both natural and dyed timbers - the main body of the box is made from Australian Red Cedar, the lid is Poplar and the butterfly background is Myrtle veneer. Dyed timbers are used in the butterflies, the yellow stripping which frames the image and notably in the exceptionally fine detailing of the corner dovetails.

As a gift for a special occasion or presentation this box is ideal - it is unique and made to a rare standard of workmanship that will be recognised by all.
Max studied marquetry in France where this craft and the guilds who teach it date back many centuries. This is number 4 of a limited edition series of 20, signed by the artist.

MEASUREMENTS
Dimensions*:
Height 9cm x Width 23cm x Depth 14cm
Weight*:
0.55kg