Two pieces of furniture from the Roentgen workshop, an early writing desk belonging to the Rococo period and a late classical roll-top desk, were examined in regard to their design and workmanship. Through the examination it became apparent that there was an immense improvement in technical know-how between the years 1760-1790 in the Roentgen brother enterprise. Especially impressive is the change in marquetry. The earlier methods of taking veneer apart, engraving with saw and grooving tool, coloring and shading by burning wood gave way to more efficient means of production. The marquetries were hence divided into light/ shadow shades. At first there were two shades of light and dark green, then three shades, and finally even four shades of green. The backgrounds were apparently gray, so that a cool graygreen tone dominated, which is nowadays patinated into a warm brown. Studio experiments confirm that the veneer wood in the marquetry was usually stained immediately after being taken apart and that pre-colored dried veneer was used only for the base and for the lightestshades. By making small strips it became possible to completely color the light hues with shadow tones. In this way the marquetry could be planed off even after the veneer was finished with no damage to the coloring.