Nathalie Rolland-Huckel

Lacquerer

For the love of lacquer

Nathalie interprets an ancient French tradition
Music helps her to create her objects
She is very much inspired by nature

Nathalie has always been fascinated by beauty. She began her craft activity by decorating porcelain. It was through porcelain that she began thinking of becoming a lacquerer. Besides, she always had in her mind and in her eyes the inros at the Guimet Museum in Paris, one of the largest collections abroad of Asian art, and the power those objects had to completely overwhelm her. During her training at the Adac workshops in Paris, she met the master lacquerer Isabelle Emmerique. That was the turning point in her life. It has been very hard, it took her a long time to learn, in terms of research and experimentation, and many mistakes. Nathalie has now been practicing lacquer for almost twenty years and still enjoys it.

Interview

©Gilles Leimdorfer

Where does this passion come from?: When the art of lacquer spread in the West (18th-19th centuries) coinciding with the fashion of the so-called “chinoiseries”, in France there was a desire to break away from the Asian aspect, reinterpretating the art according to French taste. I love that taste.
Why is nature your main source of inspiration?: I come from the countryside. I find flowers and plants so interesting and full of incredible structures from which to draw inspiration and ideas. When I walk in my garden I observe very much. I’m attracted by the richness of colours.
What is the part of your job you like the most?: The choice of colours. It’s as if they speak to me. Last year, I used a lot of shades of red and orange. It still requires a lot of studying and will to experiment with new colour schemes, to avoid the risk of being repetitive. I always try to innovate.
How important is the detail?: Everything is in the detail. Each single detail makes the object unique and precious. In this field, Japanese art is very interesting, because it is rich in details, each with its own meaning. I have no hesitation in saying that I feel a great connection with the Asian tradition.

Nathalie Rolland-Huckel is a master artisan: she began her career in 1997 and she started teaching in 2010