Set of antique chess pieces

Mahogany has always been considered a very noble wood. This impression was reinforced in the Empire when the wood was combined with gilded bronzes.

Especially during the Baroque and Rococo periods, rosewood was popular at the French court. We are talking here about the Louis XIV and Louis XV eras.

In the Biedermeier period, black ebony was used as a contrast to light woods such as cherry, birch or ash. It was used for key plates and thread inlays.

Inlay is the term we use to describe work in which, unlike marquetry, material is taken out of a solid piece of wood. Then the inlays are inserted.

Ivory was used as a contrast to dark woods as inlay or marquetry. It has always been considered particularly precious and noble.