Working out the hues
- Stéphanie's practice is rooted in a cross-generational heritage of woodworking
- She is a skilled colourist and develops natural hues for the straw in her pieces
- She champions eco-responsible techniques and materials
After two decades as an architect, in 2022 Stéphanie Trolez reconnected with her family’s heritage in woodworking. Her father and grandfather were both Compagnons du Devoir craftsmen. In her work, she combines contemporary furniture making with straw marquetry craftsmanship. Stéphanie grows her own rye straw, prepares and hand dyes it with natural pigments. "I work from seed to creation," she explains with pride. Colour exploration offers her vast grounds for creative freedom, and she seeks inspiration for her works in nature. "Using traditional straw working and straw marquetry techniques allows me to craft in an ethical and ecological way," she says.
Interview
- What do you enjoy most about your craft?
- Colour is what excites me the most. Experimenting and developing new tones, and applying them to straw marquetry allows me to explore creativity fully. Rediscovering the ancestral techniques of straw marquetry takes time and experimentation, but the possibilities feel endless. I am still trying to achieve the right blue!
- What inspires your pieces?
- I draw inspiration from all kinds of crafts, and nature is always present. Birds in flight often appear in my designs. Inspiration also comes from walks, holidays, hikes, visits to museums and exhibitions, or discovering the work of other artisans.
- As an artisan, what does 'well made' mean to you?
- Being well made goes beyond technique. It is about translating the emotion I feel while creating into the object itself. Perfect execution is important, but the work is truly complete when it communicates feeling and invites a connection with those who see it.
- How is your practice linked to your region?
- My work is local and close to natural cycles of the land. The rye straw I use is grown in Poitou, my dyes are plant-based or sourced from French producers, and all furniture and marquetry are made in my Montreuil workshop.
Stéphanie Trolez is a rising star: she began her career in 2022 and she started teaching in 2024
Where
Stéphanie Trolez
