This training immerses you in two fascinating worlds: straw marquetry, a little-known but captivating art, under the direction of Lison de Caunes, a recognized specialist in this technique, and brass work, with Anouchka Potdevin, designer and metalworker.

The objective is to explore two distinct skills that harmonize perfectly to create an object that is both elegant and original. The meeting of these materials, shiny brass and delicate straw, gives rise to unique pieces, which are revealed as each participant progresses. The work required is simple to approach, but requires great precision.
After falling into oblivion, straw marquetry, a thousand-year-old decorative art originating from the Far East, this technique experienced a revival in the 1930s, notably thanks to the decorator André Groult. Today, it is his granddaughter, Lison de Caunes, who guides you in this exciting and enriching approach.

At the end of the training, the trainee will be able to:

• Work brass with simple techniques
• Understand the ancestral techniques of straw marquetry
• Combine metalwork with straw marquetry
• Select and prepare straw
• Create patterns in individual and collective work
• Use this ancestral technique
• Work collectively
• Manage resources collectively

This training immerses you in two complementary worlds: straw marquetry, a rare technique, guided by Lison de Caunes, a recognized specialist, and brass work, explored under the direction of Anouchka Potdevin, designer and metalworker.

For 4 days, each participant will have the opportunity to discover the unique combination of these two skills to create a collective piece. Anouchka Potdevin will lead most of the training, while Lison de Caunes will intervene halfway through to introduce participants to straw marquetry.

On the program: learning to work straw to design refined patterns, inherited from the great decorative works of history. Participants will learn to select and prepare straw, to master its nuances of colors and textures, and to integrate it into elegant compositions.

At the same time, they will become familiar with brass, by making metal elements and developing delicate patterns. The assembly of straw and brass will give rise to original creations, transforming these materials into real supports for decorative expression.

Training schedule

Day 1

Morning in the metal workshop

Metal safety instructions
Production of the first brass support

Afternoon in the wood workshop

Wood safety instructions
Cutting and priming the second medium support (working with a scroll saw)
Finishing and preparation of the 2 supports for the 2 days of straw veneer to follow

Days 2 and 3

mornings and afternoons

Straw marquetry workshop with Lison de Caunes and Anouchka Potdevin

Careful selection and preparation of straw
Understanding and use of different shades of colors and textures
Application and plating on the supports produced

Day 4

Morning

Production of the brass plating for the second support
Finishing of the second support (setting and drying time required)

Afternoon

Cleaning and polishing the second support
Comparison of the 2 working methods and conclusions
Cleaning of the workshops

Lison de Caunes

After studying at the Union Centrale des Arts Décoratifs, Lison de Caunes devoted herself to the art of straw marquetry, thus perpetuating the tradition of her grandfather, the decorator André Groult. Having become a specialist in this technique, she rehabilitates these poetic practices by restoring furniture and objects from the 17th century to the Art Deco period. She has organized several exhibitions, written books on straw marquetry and participates in numerous events to highlight this humble and luxurious material that illuminates the most contemporary furniture with its shimmer. She creates custom furniture, home accessories and wall panels for decorators and interior designers. In 2015, she launched Lison de Caunes Créations, her own line of straw marquetry furniture.

Anouchka Potdevin

Anouchka is a designer and metalworker whose work combines traditional know-how, contemporary creativity and sustainable commitment. For nearly 20 years, she has been shaping metal to create unique pieces and small series for brands, architects, decorators and individuals.
Trained in metalwork and applied arts after an apprenticeship with a Compagnon du Devoir, she has developed a unique universe, inspired by organic shapes and plays of light. Her approach to design is based on a deep reflection on the material and its history. She has always made a point of reusing or upcycling materials and objects, breathing new life into the elements she works with.
In 2012, an order for a suspended seat inspired her to create a human-sized birdcage, an emblematic piece that was very successful and appeared on the cover of decoration magazines. This artisanal creation made in Brittany appeals to luxury boutiques, hotels and events, and even appears in the film Hunger Games.
Anouchka has also collaborated with prestigious brands such as Guerlain, Moët & Chandon, Le Bon Marché and L’Oréal. Her creations, regularly selected by trend agencies such as Nelly Rodi and Elisabeth Leriche, are a testament to her expertise and sense of innovation. In her workshop in Brittany, she continues to explore new techniques and push the boundaries of metal design, while remaining true to her values: responsible production, a commitment to craftsmanship and a constant quest for harmony between aesthetics and sustainability.

• Workshops with professional equipment, classroom, multipurpose room
• Supply of materials
• Individual and collective work
• Workshop work
• Active participation and experimentation of participants are favored

• Collective and personalized monitoring of work, regular updates
• Self-assessment of technical skills
• Collective restitution
• Sign-in sheet per half-day
• Certificate of completion issued by Campus MaNa