Tuesday, July 8, 2008

More Marquetry

In the late 1970's, Russell and Minnie Blood's grandson, Ron Blood, was in Vienna, Austria on a mission, and he sent a tapestry with this picture on it to them. They prized it, and hung it on a wall in their home in Washington. Dad was always fascinated with the picture on it - castles, steps, a coach with horses, people, mountains, trees - everything. He put tracing paper over the tapestry and attempted to trace it, but wasn't satisfied with the results. He gave me the drawing, and I completed it, and had blueprint copies made of the design for him for Christmas. He was pleased, but said that he really wanted me to share in the making of the picture. We worked together planning and cutting veneer. He completed the right half of the picture, and I did the left. We finished it in March of 1990. Size is 54 1/2" x 29". Working with Dad on this project was one of the choice experiences of my life.

4 comments:

Elizabeth said...

I forgot to add that there are 42 different woods in this picture, including a piece of Cuban mahogany that Dad had in his stash from the 1940s.

Elizabeth said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ann said...

I have always been amazed at the beautiful outcome of this project. And the opportunity you (Elizabeth) had to learn from a master of this art was something only you and Steve were able to do. What a choice experience with a wonderful reminder of that experience to hang on your wall. And now we all have a copy of it, through the blog. Thank you!

Judy said...

The results of this picture are so inspiring, as was watching the father/daughter relationship take a new dimension. Whereever it hangs, becomes a beautiful place.