As Ken Stover a marquetry buddy of mine, was creating a beautiful marquetry masterpiece, he approached me to see if I would be interested in doing the carving for the border of his headboard. Ken and Ronelle had previously referred me to a neighbor of theirs to build and Italian carved fireplace mantel and were so impressed with the outcome they knew I would be the perfect craftsman to compliment Ken’s marquetry.
Both Ken and I were one of the first handful of students to graduate the American School of French Marquetry.
Ken wanted to create a special headboard for his wife Ronelle. Ken designed this with marquetry from a table’s top by Jean-Henry Riesener in 1771. The table is located in the Petit Trianon at Versailles. This table is featured in Pierre Ramond’s book: Masterpieces of Marquetry (volume III) page,77: ISBN 0-89236-595-1.
This is the pattern Ken used to make full scale drawings for a queen-sized bed. Ken executed the marquetry using the ‘painting in wood’ technique, using sawn veneers imported from France.
I was truly honored to be a part of the piece and thoroughly enjoyed the collaboration of working with Ken.
Ken’s marquetry packet of headboard.
Aaron’s carving on air dried lumber.
Aaron’s carving on work bench.
Ken’s finished marquetry masterpiece being framed with Aaron’s French walnut carving.