Currently, Sandrine Viollet is working on a new straw marquetry project for Atelier Viollet: a room entirely covered in straw marquetry. Each panel is curved and, once all placed together, will be installed in a room generating a scalloped wall. Sandrine will complete about a hundred straw panels, approximately 6 inches by 8 feet, which will result… [Read More]
straw marquetry furniture
Sandrine Viollet On Straw Marquetry
In a recent article published in the Financial Times, Sandrine Viollet discussed straw marquetry furniture technique. “What fascinates me is that you start with such a simple material and end up with beautiful furniture,” says Sandrine Viollet, master of straw marquetry at Atelier Viollet. “You can’t use any machines to work the straw “ only… [Read More]
Behind The Scenes In The Atelier Viollet Workshop
Step inside Atelier Viollet workshop and you’re in a refuge from the bustle of our busy neighborhood. Quietly and serenely, a dozen or so artisans are at their cooperative jobs. Every step is bespoke, whether hammering a delicate inlay or wielding giant machine that adhere woods together. Even to us, it’s a delight to watch… [Read More]
Atelier Viollet’s Furniture & Finish Samples
Material and finish samples are an integral part of the furniture making process here at Atelier Viollet. Our proposals routinely include the development of new samples, together with the shop drawings. These help to show how the actual materials and finishes will appear on the final product. We start working on them right after our… [Read More]
Atelier Viollet’s Seyssel Collection
Jean-Paul Viollet is the latest in a line of classical architectural woodworkers who were active in Seyssel, a village in the Rhone Valley, since the early 19th century. Growing up in the family woodworking shop, he developed many of his trade skills and aesthetic sensitivities, working side by side with his grandfather and his father…. [Read More]
Sandrine Viollet’s Straw Marquetry Award
Every three years, France recognizes her finest craftspeople, chosen from over 180 trades, with the coveted title “One of the best Craftsmen in France.” In 2008, for the first time, the exquisitely delicate technique of Straw Marquetry was included. Sandrine Viollet dedicated over 1500 hours, created 100 custom colors on 24 wood blocks, and brought home… [Read More]