Manon Bouvier is our Artisan of the Month!

Manon Bouvier is a straw marquetry artist and a 2021 laureate of the Fondation Rémy Cointreau. After training in cabinetmaking and an internship in marquetry, she created the Paelis workshop in 2016. In 2019, she was named Meilleur Ouvrier de France in the “Straw Marquetry” category, becoming the third straw marquetry artist to receive this distinction. Discover her career in this new episode of “Artisan of the Month!”. 

The Trade  

Straw marquetry is an ancestral craft dating back to the 17th century. Today, only a dozen or so artisans in France still practice it. This technique involves meticulously selecting, splitting, and flattening rye straw before applying it to surfaces ranging from small objects and furniture to modern design pieces. There is no limit to its applications; each unique piece testifies to the beauty of this craft. A cabinetmaker by training, Manon fell in love with straw marquetry during an internship. She trained for another two years in marquetry before setting up her workshop. There, she continues to explore the boundaries of the medium through research and innovation. 

The Gesture  

In Manon’s profession, the gesture is essential. A particularity of her vision influences her approach to the material: she sees with both eyes, but not simultaneously, which prevents her from perceiving in 3D. This characteristic influences her way of understanding the material, which she works through the interaction of light and shadow. Her favourite gesture, and perhaps the most revealing of her craft, is that of touch. “Don’t look at your work, touch it,” she encourages, believing that true perfection lies not in the visual, but in the tactile realm – the softness, the smoothness, the exquisite finesse revealed only by touch.  

The Transmission 

For Manon Bouvier, transmission is a fundamental value within her workshop. Her goal is to see her students excel beyond her own achievements, undertaking increasingly ambitious and innovative projects. She believes embracing risk is crucial for the preservation and advancement of her know-how, a conviction reflected in her passionate, daily commitment to sharing her craft. 

In this mutual desire for transmission, the Fondation Rémy Cointreau supported Manon Bouvier in 2021 and 2023 in the development of her workshop and the acquisition of tools necessary to welcome, train and provide a comfortable working environment for apprentices and employees.