Fretwork is an interlaced decorative design that is either carved in low relief on a solid background, or cut out with a fretsaw, jigsaw or scrollsaw.

Most fretwork patterns are geometric in design. The materials most commonly used are wood and metal. Fretwork is used to adorn furniture and musical instruments.

Any item that is cut out is considered fretwork, although popular usage creates an exception to this rule; when the architectural element is not actually physically cut out, such as reproduction plastic moulded fretwork it is called fretwork, however it was not 'cut out' with a fretsaw, jigsaw or scrollsaw so it is technically incorrect.

Nor are elements such as a carved corbel considered to be fretwork, even if the initial crafting of the item included using a cut out technique.

In the photo to your right you can see how the wood has been continuously cut using the fretwork method. Dark paper or wood can be placed behind the image to bring the pattern into view.