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Intarsia (studiolo)

Europe tradition · 5 examples · indicative market tier: $5k–50k (serious collector)

Intarsia is a form of wood inlaying that is similar to marquetry. The practice dates from before the 7th century AD. The technique inserts sections of wood (at times with contrasting ivory or bone, or mother-of-pearl) within the solid wood matrix of floors and walls or of tabletops and other furniture; by contrast marquetry assembles a pattern out of veneers glued upon the carcass. Certosina is a variant also using pieces of ivory, bone or mother of pearl. Wikipedia →

Types & examples

Plate with Cupid
Plate with Cupid, 1530/40
Art Institute of Chicago
Intarsia Designs for Flooring
Intarsia Designs for Flooring, n.d.
Art Institute of Chicago
The Last Supper
The Last Supper, 1548
The Met
Center Table
Center Table, ca. 1830
The Met
Chapel from Le Château de la Bastie d'Urfé
Chapel from Le Château de la Bastie d'Urfé, ca. 1547–48
The Met

Where to buy

1stDibsHigh-end antiques & design marketplaceBrowse listings → LiveAuctioneersAggregated live auctions worldwideBrowse listings → InvaluableAuction-house listings & price archiveBrowse listings → Christie'sMajor-auction results & upcoming salesBrowse listings → EtsyLiving artisans & vintage dealersBrowse listings → eBayBroad secondary market — vet sellers carefullyBrowse listings →

Each link opens a live, image-rich search for this craft on that marketplace. Listings rotate constantly; authenticate significant pieces independently — attribution quality varies widely outside museum collections.