The training will focus on the "Boulle" technique, a layering cutting method developed in the 17th century.

First, students will complete a traditional exercise to familiarize themselves with this approach.
They will then undertake a second, more personal project, which will explore a contemporary interpretation of the technique, related to the theme of landscape.

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

• Apply veneer for cutting
• Cut marquetry using the Boulle method
• Inlay marquetry
• Perform the entire finishing of a marquetry object
• Interrogate this expertise in order to develop it in a personal way

Boulle marquetry is a decorative technique developed in the 17th century, closely associated with the name of André-Charles Boulle, cabinetmaker to King Louis XIV. It embodies the exceptional expertise of French artisans and remains, to this day, a symbol of technical virtuosity and refinement.
This method is based on a principle of layering: several sheets of contrasting materials—such as brass, tortoiseshell, or stained wood—are assembled into a single bundle, then simultaneously cut with a saw according to a drawn pattern. This process creates two inverted compositions, using each material as both positive and negative. The result is a marquetry rich in contrasts, where the interplay of materials gives rise to complex and decorative motifs.

Today, this traditional technique is being reinvented by contemporary artisans such as Pierre-Henri Beyssac, Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsman of France). It continues to live and reinvent itself, blending historical heritage and contemporary audacity to enrich the heritage of artistic crafts.

Schedule

Day 1

Morning

• Roundtable discussion and presentation of marquetry
• Explanation of the Boulle marquetry training schedule

Afternoon

• Preparing the veneers
• Pre-cutting the marquetry bundles
• Getting to grips with the cutting method

Day 2

Morning

• Preparing the bundles
• Beginning of cutting

Afternoon

• Cutting the marquetry
• Inlay and putty

Day 3

Morning

• Inlay and putty
• Gluing on a support

Afternoon

• Developing the technique by layering in a free composition around the concept of landscape

Day 4

Morning

• Free composition plate
• Cleaning the Boulle marquetry

Afternoon

• Cleaning the free compositions
• Finishing the two marquetry pieces
• Training feedback
• Workshop tidying

Pierre-Henri Beyssac

Nothing destined Pierre-Henri Beyssac for woodworking. It was during a wandering academic career that he discovered marquetry, a decisive encounter with an unpredictable material that would become his medium of expression.

Trained at the Boulle School, from which he graduated with a Master of Business Administration (DMA), he continued his apprenticeship in Italy at the European Restoration Center in Florence, then established a workshop in Réunion Island for the IRMA. Upon his return, he joined the Spindler workshop near Strasbourg, where he enriched his practice with contemporary techniques and approaches. After five years of teaching at the Boulle School, he chose to settle between Paris and the Drôme region to devote himself fully to creation.

Elected Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsman of France) in marquetry in 2015, Pierre-Henri Beyssac tirelessly explores the boundaries of his art. Through Atelier Beyssac, he blends traditional craftsmanship with innovation, developing numerous collaborations with haute couture, architecture, and luxury brands. He explores marquetry as a living language, open to decoration, furniture, and art objects.

His approach remains driven by one constant: spontaneity of gesture. Inspired by nature, he also creates unique pieces, guided by a sensitivity to materials, textures, and colors.
Alongside his creative work, he is committed to sharing his expertise. Since 2021, he has been teaching wood marquetry at the Puy-en-Velay prison, thus extending his social and educational commitment.

Between artisanal mastery and creative freedom, Pierre-Henri Beyssac embodies a generation of creators reinventing the crafts without ever betraying their essence.

• Classroom, multipurpose room, workshops with professional equipment
• Materials provided
• Individual and collaborative work
• Workshop work
• Active participation and experimentation of participants are encouraged

• Collective and personalized monitoring of work, regular updates
• Self-assessment of technical skills
• Collective feedback
• Half-day attendance sheet
• Certification of completion issued by Campus MaNa