Laurent Dif

Furniture maker

©Laurent Dif

©Amélie Scotta

The metal tamer

Laurent uses iron as his base material
He moulds his creations by hand, then varnishes and polishes them
He combines many creative skills from restoring to design

Laurent Dif is a man of many talents, artisan and designer in one soul. Restorer, carpenter, furniture designer, since 2013 he has been working with metal, adapting his knowledge and skills to the challenges and endless possibilities this material offers. Curious and ingenious by nature, he also crafts the tools he uses, devising the necessary techniques to shape metal into items that have a function, while pleasing the eye and touch. His creations are like one-of-a-kind sculptures, where the single metal sheet is manually folded and shaped, sometimes cut, then varnished. Creations that are linear and timeless, perceived as light in spite of what would be expected from the material they are made of, thanks to the taming and transformation of metal’s resistance and strength. A further touch is from time to time added with wood layers, lacquering and satin finishings.

Interview

©Laurent Dif

©Amélie Scotta

Why did you switch your focus from wood to metal?: In 2012, I wanted to design metal pieces but could not find anyone who would execute them as I desired. I started experimenting, I bought a 4mm metal sheet, literally fought with it and with the aid of jacks and rollers I had cut myself, I not only created but also made my first piece, the “Vrille” table.
Do you master any specific technique?: My background is woodwork, so I had to adapt my skills as far as folding and bending as my pieces are made out of just one single sheet of metal. I do everything manually using the specific tools I need and therefore devise, which allows me to be flexible and in control of every single step of the process.
How do you combine tradition and innovation in your work?: I love this question as I am a firm believer that human beings and their hands are already an innovative tool, due to all the different solutions they find and apply during the crafting process, based on experience and on handing over knowledge, so tradition is an innovation in itself.
Do you have any anecdotes about your craft?: Working with metal besides being challenging can also be quite dangerous. I have had countless scratches, burns, dislocations due to the weight, but what I dread most are metal sparks. I could not find any suitable glasses that would protect me until I tried the swimming ones which proved to be the safest.

Laurent Dif is a master artisan: he began his career in 2012 and he started teaching in 2015