AMS Marquetarian Art

Artist ~ Ernie Mills ~

  Packet House
Worsley, England
3rd place, Class 1  in the
2012 International Marquetry Exhibition, Chelmsford, England

As shown on the front cover of the 2011 Fall issue of
 The American Marquetry Society.
Marquetry is the art of creating decorative designs
and pictures by skillfully utilizing the grain, figure
and colors of thin veneers, and sometimes other
materials such as shell or ivory.
This piece shows packet House in Worsley, England.
It is the village where I was brought up and has
many happy memories of playing there.
It is 9-3/8" [23.8cm] x 12-1/2" [31.7cm], scalpel
cut and was finished with DEFT water based sanding
sealer, then polished with furniture polish.
In Arizona where the DP at the time was 2° the
water based product was extremely difficult to
control such that each coat needed sanding down.
Eventually I polished it with 600 grit and buffed it
with furniture polish.
Anyone who is interested in learning this art form
please contact me at [email protected]

Worsley Old Hall, England
This piece is the second Tudor House in a set of three. It depicts the old manor house, Worsley Old Hall.
It is 18" [46.0cm] x 9-1/2" [24.0cm], scalpel cut and finished with six coats of sanding sealer until dead flat, 3 coats of satin wipe on poly and polished with Renaissance wax. Beautiful, full gloss, hard finish.
The present building on the site dates from the 16th century. It was originally a timber-framed building which has
been rebuilt in brick. The building was remodeled in the 18th century with the addition of a range immediately to
the north of the hall range. It was substantially extended in or around 1855 with an extension added to the east wing.
Further work was carried out in 1891; in 1905 the space between the wings was filled in with a billiard room and in
1906 a small wing was added on the northwest side. During the 20th century there were further internal alterations,
particularly in the 1990s when the building was converted into a restaurant. The hall is of particular historical
importance because it was in this building that Francis Egerton, the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, James Brindley and
John Gilbert planned the Bridgewater Canal and supervised its building. 
Anyone interested in learning the art of Marquetry please contact me at [email protected]

Buttes of Monument Valley, Arizona  
Highly Commended in the 2012 International Marquetry Exhibition, Chelmsford, England
This piece is 13” [33.0cm] x 8-3/4” [22.2cm] and was taken from an internet photo. It presented quite a challenge. I really enjoyed the interpretation from photo to veneer. It was finished with 5 coats of water based sanding sealer and a coat of high gloss polyurethane varnish. Finally rubbed with Renaissance wax polish. 12 week period, Scalpel cut.

The Navajo, Arizona
This piece is 13-1/8” [33.3cm] x 10-3/4” [26.0cm] and was taken from an old calendar photo. It taught me a lot of tricks and new techniques. I really enjoyed the interpretation from photo to veneer, although there are some glaring mistakes. It was finished with 5 coats of water based sanding sealer and two coats of high gloss, wipe-on polyurethane varnish. Finished with a Renaissance wax polish rub. Scalpel cut.

The Anasazi, Canyon de Chelly, Arizona
This piece is 13-1/2” [34] x 9-5/8” [24.5] and was created stating with a photograph I took in 2008 of the ruins at Canyon de Chelly (de shay) . After completing the back ground scene, the trees were cut in, then the critter at bottom left. I tried to correct mistakes I learned in the Navaho picture but of course more were introduced. It was finished with 5 coats of water based sanding sealer and two coats of satin, wipe-on polyurethane varnish. Finished with a Renaissance wax polish rub. Scalpel cut.

Water Lilies, France
This piece is 12-5/8” [32.0cm] x 10-1/8” [25.7cm] and was taken from a photograph we took on 14 Aug. 11 at
Claude Monet's estate in Giverny, France. I attempted this piece because I was new to tree's and bushes and wanted a
deep immersion in that subject. The interpretation from photo to veneer was extremely fascinating with my style less
literal and more impressionistic. Re-do's were many. It was finished with 10 coats of lacquer sanding sealer, lightly sanded with 1500 grit then finally rubbed with Renaissance wax polish. 13 week period, Scalpel cut.

Rue Carnot, Vernon, France
This piece is 13” [33.0cm] x 10-5/16” [26.2cm] and was taken from a photograph we took on 16 Aug. 11 close to Claude Monet's estate in Giverny, France. This piece presented a major challenge in Perspective, but with the help of Peter White I was able to produce what I think, is good perspective.  Re-do's were unfortunately many until I achieved some semblance of what I was trying to achieve. It was finished with 6 coats of sanding sealer, 3 coats of satin wipe-on-poly then finally polished with Renaissance wax.  Work started on 18 Jun 12 and finished 6 Nov 12 although much of that time was spent rebuilding the AMS web site. It is all Scalpel cut.

Laughlin Ranch Covered Bridge, AZ
This piece was entered in the American Marquetry Society's (AMS) Covered Bridge contest 2012, and placed 3rd.
Description: It was taken from an internet photograph of the Laughlin Ranch Golf Course Covered Bridge just east of Bullhead city, Mohave County, Arizona. The photo was taken by Bob & Dorothy Dunham. Bridge GPS coordinates N35 08.137 W114 32.677.
It was built in 2004 by York Bridge Concepts (www.ybc.com) with Stringer truss construction. Designed as a cart path crossing a dry wash gully and spans 50’. It is 16’ wide.
This piece measures 13” (33 cm) x 10.375 (26.4 cm) and was pressed onto a piece of ¼” MDF board, and backed by a single piece of Maple veneer. It was sanded with 220 grid then 5 coats of sanding sealer were applied. Between each application the surface was wet and dry sanded with 600 grid using a flat steel block. It was finished with 3 coats of wipe on polyurethane varnish and finally polished with Renaissance wax. It is all Scalpel cut.		  

Mabry Mill, Floyd County, VA

Mabry Mill is a watermill located at milepost 176.2 of Blue Ridge Parkway in Floyd County, Virginia. It is a tourist attraction mainly for the picturesque views of the mill itself.
Mabry Mill was built by Edwin Boston Mabry (E.B. Mabry). E.B. Mabry returned to Floyd County in 1903 and began the construction of the mill. It was first a blacksmith and wheelwright shop, then became a sawmill. By 1905 it was in operation as a gristmill. By 1910 the front part of the mill was completed and included a lathe for turning out wheel hubs, a tongue and groove lathe, a planer and a jig-saw. Between 1905 and 1914 E.B. Mabry bought adjacent tracts of land, mostly for the purpose of acquiring more water power.
This piece measures 13-1/4” (33.6 cm) x 9-1/8" (23.2 cm) and was pressed onto a piece of ¼” MDF board, and backed by a single piece of Maple veneer. It was sanded with 220 grid then 6 coats of sanding sealer were applied. Between each application the surface was wet and dry sanded with 600 grid using a flat steel block. It was finished with 3 coats of wipe on Satin polyurethane varnish and finally polished with Renaissance wax. It is all Scalpel cut.

 ~The Bridgewater Canal ~  Worsley, Lancs. England
Ed: comments: "A truly superb miniature"

1st place: Class 6B in the 2012
International Marquetry Exhibition, Chelmsford, England.
Awarded the:
Peggy and Byron Shellard Cup for first place.

1st place: Marquetry category.
Northeast Woodworkers Association 22nd annual fine woodworking showcase, Mar.2013.
This piece shows a Houseboat on the Bridgewater Canal. The House in the background is Packet House. It measures only 2.9" (7.4cm) x 3.9" (9.9cm), scalpel cut and was
finished with 1 coat of a 1:1 mix of polyurethane gloss and mineral spirits acting as a
sealer then 3 coats of gloss poly. Final polish used was Renaissance wax.
Anyone interested in learning this art form please contact me at [email protected]

  Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
2nd place, Class 6B in the 2012 International
Marquetry Exhibition, Chelmsford, England

This piece was created from a photo we took in 1990 where
Puerto Rico was one stop on a Caribbean cruise.
It measures only 2.9" (7.4cm) x 3.9" (9.9cm), scalpel cut
and was finished with 1 coat of a 1:1 mix of polyurethane
gloss and mineral spirits acting as a sealer then 3 coats of
gloss poly.
Final polish used was Renaissance wax.
Anyone interested in learning this art form please contact
me at [email protected]

Our Family Pet, Buffy

This is my first ever attempt at a portrait. I needed to figure out how to use my Corel Paint Shop Pro software to render a photograph to a useful pattern configuration. I thank Alan Mansfield of the UK marquetry society in pointing me in the right direction. The results are shown.
The subject was our family pet named Buffy.
The size is 3" x 5" and was made such that ellipse area is a little less than 12 sq."  This qualifies as a 'Miniature' if it was entered at the international marquetry exhibition(s).
It has 5 coats of sanding sealer with 3 coats of wipe on Polyurethane Varnish, finally polished with Renaissance wax. It was all scalpel cut.
Anyone interested in learning this art form please contact me at [email protected]
Trinket Box
 Trinket Box Trinket Box
A red oak box. The Compass Rose is set into a birds eye maple field. Cartouche is trimmed with black and white and inset into walnut. A red oak box. The holly veneer Patera is set into a walnut field. Cartouche is trimmed with white and inset into a piece of walnut burl. A mahogony box, with a white oak Basket Weave is set into a mahogony field.


Trinket Box
 Trinket Box
A red oak box. The sand shaded oval Fan is set into a harewood field, which in turn is set into a Louis Cube field with a triple stripe of holly-mahogany-holly inset in a walnut field. A red oak box. The holly and sycamore veneer Rose, sand shaded for effect is set into a walnut burl field. The leaves are poplar.


10" Scroll Work Plate
This prototype was made using an 8 segmented maple construction.
The finished plate has a basic flower pattern scrolled through on each segment.
The diameter is 10", the total height 1" and a rim thickness of 3/16". 
It has a free flow sun burst, Arizona themed Marquetry center piece.  The outside Scroll work pattern is original. The flower pattern overlaps two of the eight segments and runs into a third to produce a repeat pattern of four cycles.
The scroll work used a jewelers 3/0 (0.008") blade, and the scroll speed was slow.
Finished with wipe on Polyurethane and polished with Carnauba wax.

The Silk road Covered Bridge, Bennington county, Vermont
This piece is the first in a set of 3.
The 10-3/8" plate is based on an 8 segmented Maple construction. It is 1" thick and sports an original floral filigree cut on a scroll saw using a 3/0 (0.008") jewelers blade.
The 6" marquetry inlay shows a rendition of the
Silk Road, Covered Bridge in Bennington county,
Vermont. The bridge is on the national register of historic places.
This bridge spans the Wallomasac River and was built in 1840 by Benjamin Sears. The Original name was Locust Grove Bridge.
It is 88' long, 14.25' wide and 10' high at truss, 11.9' high at center.
This plate was finished with 5 coats of sanding sealer and 2 coats of wipe on Poly, and finally polished with Renaissance wax.
It was 100% scalpel cut.

Thomas J Malone Covered Bridge, Columbiana County, Ohio
Number 2 of 3 in this series.  Taken from a photograph, the Thomas J. Malone Bridge is a 42 foot long covered bridge that spans a small stream on Echo Dell Road in Beaver Creek State Park, Columbiana County, Ohio.
The bridge is located about 4 miles northwest of
Calcutta, Ohio. The bridge was built in either 1865 or 1870 and previously spanned Middle Run, on State Route 154, between Lisbon and Elkton. It is no longer an active bridge supporting vehicle traffic, but rather is on display. It has an altered multiple kings post truss and has an unknown load limit. The bridge is a natural wood perhaps stained dark brown and has either wood or slate shingled roof. The overall condition of the bridge is excellent. It has been reconditioned and preserved quite well in its present location.
This plate was finished with 5 coats of sanding sealer and 2 coats of wipe on Satin Poly, and finally polished with Renaissance wax.
Some artistic license applied. 100% scalpel cut.

Fallasburg Covered Bridge, Vergennes Township, Michigan
(alternatively Fallassburgh Bridge) is of the through-truss type. It is 14 feet (4.3 m) wide and 100 feet (30 m) long and the bridge has an inside clearance of 12 feet (3.7 m).
It was erected in 1871 in Vergennes Township, Michigan, on the Flat River and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The bridge currently rests on concrete and fieldstone footings at each end put in place in 1905. As is typical for covered bridges, it is a frame structure with a gabled roof that is covered with creosote shingles.
The marquetry was taken from a photograph.
The 8 segment, maple plate was finished with 6 coats of sanding sealer and 4 coats of wipe on Satin Poly, and finally polished with Renaissance wax.
Some artistic license applied. 100% scalpel cut.

 
 
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