Valérie Colas des Francs
Institut National des Métiers d'Art / Ateliers d’Art de France
Straw marquetry maker
Nemours, France
Recommended by The French Savoir-Faire Institute (INMA)
Straw-testing for effect
- Valérie makes interior decoration pieces with innovative textures in straw
- She trained and worked with straw marquetry artist master Lison de Caunes for 14 years
- Some of her pieces take many months to make
After a career in marketing, Valérie Colas des Francs retrained in straw marquetry at Lison de Caunes’ workshop, where she worked for 14 years. Since the year 2000, Valérie has explored the paradoxes of the material, innovating on techniques and their applications. "My workshop is nestled in the courtyard of the Château de Nemours," she shares. "I would call myself an artist–artisan, as I work on transforming simple stalks of straw into décor, furniture, sculptures and even jewellery." Valérie collaborates with major luxury houses, as well as designers and interior architects. She places great importance on research into techniques that can be used on straw to create impressions of movement and textural effects, such as a waffling of the material.
Discover her work
INTERVIEW
Yes, there is a lot of colour. It is atypical work. Most of the time straw marquetry resembles wood marquetry, it’s the same skill, the same actions, the same techniques. So I try to use straw a little differently. I have a particular style, for sure.
Nature with all its colours and scents, particularly the trees and forests and empty horizons. I’ a also inspired by the Art Deco years and artists such as Hopper and Mondrian, and music – everything from jazz to baroque. But I particularly think about the simplicity of nature.
By continuing to work on the restoration of old objects in straw marquetry. In fact, if I am innovative, it is because restoration always challenges me. They were doing extraordinary things in the past, so restoration pushes me to understand techniques and to think beyond the limits of the material.
The sensuality of straw, the time it takes, and the surprise that is always there when I finish a piece and I touch it and look at it. Sometimes it takes a long time; one piece took six months. When I try out techniques and do things differently it takes even longer.
Valérie Colas des Francs
Institut National des Métiers d'Art / Ateliers d’Art de France
Straw marquetry maker
Nemours, France
Recommended by The French Savoir-Faire Institute (INMA)
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
PHONE
+33 609021924
LANGUAGES
French, English
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