Pieter Maes' Marquetry Project

Pieter Maes

Pieter Maes is a young up-and-coming designer based in Antwerp, Belgium.  Since graduating from the Design Academy Eindhoven in 2004, he has been the catalyst for numerous product, architectural, interior and furniture design projects. In 2007, Maes hooked-up with Vincent Van Duysen Architects of Antwerp, Belgium to earn his stripes in the field of furniture design.  Since 2007, Maes has been launching new residential furniture ideas into the world through his design firm, Make Agency.

Brastilo of New York City

Recently Pieter Maes has teamed up with Brastilo of New York City, United States. Brastilo, an internet retailer, showcases a unique collection of contemporary residential furniture and accessories.  Each piece of furniture is handcrafted in Brazil from wood that comes from eco-friendly sustainable forests. This cabinet from the marquetry range uses four different woods with Eucalyptus as the main material. “I was first drawn to Brastilo because of their philosophy of making sustainable products,” states Pieter.  “In addition, this collaboration gives me the opportunity to work with solid wood. This is a medium that allows me to shape the wood in sculptural ways.  I enjoy working with Brazil’s skilled craftsmen and was impressed with their knowledge and respect for wood.”

Brastilo and Pieter Maes to Debut New Contemporary Furniture Collection at ICFF

Serra Cabinet  -  Peter Maes for Brastillo

"Minas Gerais is a state in Brazil that is very mountainous and beautiful.  The inspiration for this cabinet comes from these mountains and how light plays among the ridges.  “Serra” is the word for mountains in Portuguese.  Thus, from the inspiration comes the name of the cabinet."  Pieter Maes

Serra Cabinet

Although Pieter Maes is schooled in European modernism and Bauhaus design, he understands and is inspired by traditional woodworking techniques. He honors these craftsmen by highlighting their skilled work in his contemporary designs. (from Brastillo)

Marquetry collection 2007

The marquetry project, focuses on how to use wood in a contemporary and graphical way.

Marquetry is the art of covering a structural carcass with veneer forming decorative patterns, or figurative designs.

Necker Cube Cabinet

Necker cube cabinet 

Techniques of wood marquetry were developed in Antwerp and other Flemish centres of art and luxury products during the early 17th century. The dawn of the industrial revolution signalled more or less the end for marquetry and, slowly, the technique faded away. This project hopes to restore some of that lost glory because, thanks to true craftsmanship, marquetry gives a product a luxurious design and a human touch. The pattern used on this cabinet is the necker cube pattern, it was already used in ancient Greek times and is still valid. The legs are bent solid steel with a nickel coating.

Marquetry Collection Cabinet

Pieter Maes is all too aware of the high cost of marquetry. His Serra cabinet is currently manufactured by Brazilian company Brastilo but some of his more complex marquetry designs are proving too costly to make. 

‘These days, furniture needs to be made so quickly and cheaply. It means a cabinet that takes 100 or more hours to produce is just not economical,’ he says. ‘I have some designs ready but the production costs exceed my own production budget so I’m looking for investors.’  

 Text and quote are from Sarah Brownlee's article "Best Inlaid Plans"