Fretwork

Fretwork refers to decorative or ornamental cutting and piercing in which material is removed to create a lattice or openwork pattern. Traditionally, fretwork is produced by hand with tools such as a fret saw or piercing saw, but modern practice also uses laser cutting, CNC routing, and other precision methods. The resulting designs range from geometric grids to intricate scrolls and leaf motifs, and the technique can be applied to wood, metal, ivory, plaster, and other materials.

In decorative arts and architecture, fretwork is widely seen in screens, panels, and window tracery. It has been used since medieval and Renaissance periods to create delicate light and shadow effects, often with repeating geometric or vegetal patterns. In furniture and interior design, fretwork panels and room dividers serve both aesthetic and functional roles, providing texture and visual permeability between spaces.

In the context of musical instruments, particularly fretted instruments, fretwork refers to the craftsmanship related to the frets themselves and the surrounding work on the fretboard. This includes slotting for fret wires, installing and leveling frets, and dressing or crowning the fret surfaces. Some instruments also feature decorative fretwork around the edges of the fingerboard, headstock, or soundhole binding. High-quality fretwork in instruments is essential for accurate intonation, playability, and finish.