Maple

A tree of the genus Acer, growing in many varieties in the northern temperate regions of Europe, Asia and North America. The white wood variety is used in marquetry and the much admired "bird's-eye" kind for panelling, etc.

Marble

A calcareous stone of compact texture found in most countries in all shades of colour, snow white and black, and also mottled and variegated. It is susceptible of a very fine polish, and was largely used during the "Architect period " of the eighteenth century for the tops of commodes, tables, consoles, etc. The description is often applied wrongly to ornamental stones resembling marble, and to the imitation made in Italy called "Scagliola."

Daniel Marot (Ob. Circa 1718)

A Huguenot architect and designer of furniture, a member of a family of French artists and a pupil of Lepautre. He took a considerable part in the formation of the English School of Furniture. Driven by religious persecution from France into Holland, he became Court Architect to William of Orange, and when that Prince became King of England, Marot was appointed "Architecte des Appartements de sa Majeste Britannique." His designs were a blending of the Louis XIV. and Dutch styles. His position at Court gave him considerable influence in directing the efforts of the large and skilful band of English, Dutch and French refugee workmen in London and the provinces at the time. Marot designed much of the furniture at Hampton Court.

Marquetry

The art of inlaying in a veneer of one wood, forming the background, woods or other materials of contrasting colour, to form designs of various kinds. Of Oriental origin, the art was followed by the Italians early in the Renaissance period, and gradually found its way into other European countries. In England, simple inlay work was practised until the end of the Restoration period, although in France at that time marquetry had reached considerable perfection. In the time of William and Mary marquetry in veneer became very popular. It gradually lost favour during the Queen Anne period and practically disappeared with the advent of mahogany but again became fashionable with the Adam, Hepplewhite and Sheraton schools. See Inlay.

Marquise Chair

The French prototype of the English "Love seat"- an upholstered seat with arms, which in view of its size might be regarded as either a short settee or a wide chair.

Marriage Coffer

See Chest.

Marsh

A word descriptive of rush or reed-strewn floors, which were often allowed to remain in a damp and offensive condition. The rush-covered floor was still usual in the eighteenth century long after rugs had become common in the houses of the wealthy.

Martin, Guillaume, Simon Etienne, Julien And Robert

Four brothers, born in the earliest years of the eighteenth century (Robert, b. 1706; ob. 1765), the sons of a Paris tailor. Originally some, if not all, of them were carriage and sedan-chair painters. Simon Etienne is credited with having invented a varnish of remarkable lustre, subsequently famous as "Vernis-Martin," which bore favourable comparison with the renowned lacs and natural varnishes of the Chinese and Japanese. For many years from 1730 the brothers enjoyed a monopoly granted by the French Government for all kinds of lacquer-work, and the family had three factories in Paris, in which to execute the large commissions they received from all parts of Europe. In 1748 these factories were by Royal decree established as a "Manufacture Nationale." Their production was enormous and, generally speaking, it is impossible to attribute any particular piece to an individual. Robert would appear, however, to have been an original artist of great talent.