THE NEW ARTISANS
Eight of the 26 artisans supported joined
the foundation during the 2021/2022 financial year:
Maxime Bellaunay,
Master cabinetmaker (Ebéniste des territoires)
Maxime Bellaunay designs and makes pieces combining different skills and materials. His is an ongoing conversation with design, bringing his expertise to a range of projects from furniture and objects to lighting. Maxime prioritises locally-sourced materials in his multidisciplinary practice. He designs custom cabinets for individuals, as well as limited-edition pieces in collaborations in France and Japan.
Sylvie Deschamps,
Maître d’Art, gold embroidery
Sylvie Deschamps is the only Maître d’Art in gold thread embroidery in the whole of France. She has headed up the Bégonia d’Or workshop since 1995, working on commissions for haute-couture clients and restoring old pieces. Central to Bégonia d’Or’s practice is its commitment to passing on the craft through apprenticeships and classes for individuals looking to make a career change.
Eric Leblanc,
Plasterer and stucco artisan
Eric Leblanc is a designer and restorer specialising in plasterwork. After training with the Compagnons du Devoir, a French skilled arts and crafts guild, he established his Les Métiers du Plâtre workshop where he specialises in both restoration work and contemporary designs for a range of clients. Eric is also determined not to let his craft fade away and puts great energy into passing on his skills to the apprentices and trainees that spend time in his workshop every year.
Annie Bocel,
Printer and engraver
Artisan engraver, Annie Bocel specialises in the rare technique of typography punching in her independent printing and embossing practice. She creates pieces for individuals as well as punches, a tool designed for mark-making on other pieces. As one of the last remaining women working in this craft, she is deeply committed to handing the knowledge down through talks and workshops. She is also writing a book on her art. Annie Bocel studied with a Maître d’Art and sees herself as continuing a long line of skilled typography punching engravers. She also has special responsibility for the Punch Room at the Imprimerie Nationale.
Manon Bouvier,
Straw marquetry artisan
Specialising in straw marquetry, Manon Bouvier established her workshop in 2006. She works on furniture, wall panels and other smaller items, such as greeting cards and frames, to name but a few. She is committed to ensuring her craft is preserved and trains two people full-time. She is also keen to tutor young visually impaired people to teach them her skills.