In this new episode of our Artisan of the Month series, we invite you to discover the world of Karen Grigorian. Introduced to this craft by chance nearly 30 years ago after arriving from Armenia, he is now among the very last master pleaters in France to work entirely by hand. Today, he welcomes us into his atelier.
The trade
Pleating is a traditional craft that transforms fabric, lending it both dimension and movement. Karen does not make the garments himself, he brings couturiers’ visions to life and gives them form. In his atelier, everything starts with hand-folded cardboard moulds. Fabric, leather, synthetic materials, or even fine bronze foil are then slipped inside before being placed into a steam oven to lock the folds in place. It’s a craft of absolute precision, coveted by top designers, where nothing will ever replace the artisan’s touch.
The gesture
Pleating is first and foremost a language of gestures: precise, refined, and passed down from generation to generation. These are movements shaped by technical mastery and the demanding nature of the raw material. Yet beyond the mechanics of the craft, there is Karen’s favorite gesture, the one that gives full meaning to his art: the moment when the fabric emerges from the mould and he discovers that the pleat has set to perfection. Above all, Karen dedicates his craftsmanship to the service of others. A pleater, pure and simple, he follows a singular guiding principle: “My satisfaction is my clients’ pleasure.”
Transmission
Today, there are no schools or formal training programs dedicated to pleating, the craft is learned exclusively through hands-on apprenticeship in the workshop. This is how Karen trained, mastering the secrets of crafting cardboard moulds on his own and through years of workshop experience. Beyond technique, true transmission comes to life when you take a master’s teachings, make them your own, and reinterpret them with a personal voice.
Step into Stéphanie Lacoste’s workshop in this new episode of our “Artisan of the Month” series and explore her weaving craft in pictures. To her, weaving is more than a passion; it is a way of life and a daily necessity.
The Trade
Weaving is an ancient craft intrinsically tied to human history and development. From the first fibers interlaced for clothing to the textiles that shaped civilizations, weavers have always mastered the art of transforming raw materials into daily essentials. Through her workshop “Curiosité Textile”, Stéphanie reinvents this age-old art. She dares to explore the unexpected, combining thread with straw, wood, or stone to create unique pieces. Her creations push the boundaries of traditional weaving, inviting us to rethink our perceptions.
The gesture
Like any exceptional craft, the gesture is central to the weaver’s art. Stéphanie appreciates each step of the weaving process for the diverse states of mind it brings: a constant dialogue between the poetry of choreography, the precision of mathematical projection, and deep concentration. It is this deft gesture, both technical and sensitive, that she is now committed to passing on in her turn within her workshop.
Transmission
For the weaver, transmission is not a simple sharing of knowledge; it is a need deeply embedded in her DNA. Transmitting means having a profound sense of playing her part in a collective endeavor and preserving the continuity of the gesture. This commitment is reflected in her desire to guide the younger generation in bringing their projects to life. By placing her expertise at the service of their creative aspirations, she faces new technical challenges: stimulating challenges that constantly revitalize her own creativity and push the limits of her art.
Driven by this shared ambition, the Fondation supported Stéphanie in the acquisition of a loom specifically dedicated to passing on her savoir-faire.
In this new episode of our “Artisan of the Month” series, discover the colorful work of stained glass artist Marie Grillo. A 2022 laureate of the Foundation, she applies her unique craftsmanship to interior design and architectural projects.
The Trade
The art of stained glass is an ancestral profession, inheriting age-old techniques passed down through generations and from one workshop to another. It shares a unique and intimate connection with time and with color, which truly comes alive and reveals its essence when light passes through it.
It was love at first sight for Marie during a cultural visit to a church that sparked her passion. She then undertook training before setting up her own workshop. Her ambition is clear: to elevate this expertise beyond its traditional ecclesiastical confines and introduce it into modern environments.
The gesture
The recognition of the master glassmaker’s techniques as part of France’s intangible cultural heritage is a testament to an art that embodies both tradition and memory. While its fundamental principles are universal, each workshop has, over generations and through the skills of its artisans, developed its own distinct identity, unique ‘house styles,’ and specific methods that define the singular character of every creation.
Marie’s favorite technique? Glass cutting. Not because it’s easy, but because of its unforgiving nature. It tolerates no errors, demanding absolute concentration and perfect control. It’s also the one that required the most dedication and resilience to achieve the millimeter precision that defines her art.
Transmission
The future of craft trades relies entirely on their transmission. While academic education plays a role, immersive learning in a workshop remains essential for achieving complete mastery. This is where ancestral knowledge is truly passed down through direct demonstration and practical application. For Marie, this virtuous cycle is driven by a dual passion: the joy of living and mastering her art, and the equally vital desire to share it in turn.
With the Foundation’s support, Marie acquired a plotter, a cutting machine designed to overcome the limitations of manual craftsmanship.
Our latest Artisan of the Month episode presents Pierre-Henri Beyssac, a wood marquetry craftsman. A laureate 2023 of the Fondation Rémy Cointreau and Meilleur Ouvrier de France, he embodies a singular expertise, merging tradition and innovation to redefine the codes and applications of marquetry.
The Trade
Known as “wood painting”, marquetry is an art that exploits the richness of wood species to create detailed “pictures”. It flourished in the 17th century, largely due to masters like André-Charles Boulle, and is distinguished by the essential notion of time and dedication. It was during his cabinetmaking vocational training that Pierre-Henri Beyssac discovered marquetry, falling in love with the craft. In his workshop, he works with hundreds of wood species, confronting the inherent challenges of the material and the continuous self-reflection inherent in this handcrafted work.
The gesture
The art of crafting a wooden marquetry piece requires a sequence of precise gestures, from the initial sketch to the meticulous selection of wood species, and through to the cutting and assembling of each segment. Of all these steps, Pierre-Henri Beyssac particularly enjoys scraping the wood, a technique that reveals an almost polished finish. This process forges an intimate bond with the medium, deeply engaging all his senses. Touch reveals the textures, hearing perceives the sound of the scraper, and above all, smell is stimulated by the specific fragrances released from every variety of wood he shapes.
Transmission
Transmission is the soul of all know-how. For Pierre-Henri, the challenge lies in passing on the skills acquired through experience, beyond written records. While seeking to share his craft, he discovered a paradoxical need: the need to unlearn his own practice to teach it more effectively. By breaking down movements that had become second nature, he finds a way to verbalize the intangible. He believes this process of un-learning is the very cornerstone of successful teaching and the driving force behind his own progress.
Driven by this desire to pass on his knowledge, Pierre-Henri found in the Fondation a partner who shared his vision of craftsmanship. This partnership took tangible form through the acquisition of a hydraulic press, a vital tool for approaching the creation of monumental scale works with peace of mind and the benefit of an optimal working environment.
Metal sculptor and 2022 laureate of the Fondation, Ulysse Lacoste creates monumental works. His secret? A unique approach blending science and mathematics. This twenty-eighth episode invites you to discover his art’s duality, where craft meets engineering.
The Trade
Metal, an ancient and timeless material, continues to transcend eras and fields. Currently, it stands at the core of artisanal crafts, perpetually reinventing itself.
For a long time divided between science and art, Ulysse Lacoste discovered his true calling and perfect balance in metal sculpture. His works, full of poetry, explore geometric forms and materials with a certain sensitivity. His artistic process starts with small-scale designs, allowing him to refine his ideas and rethink form, volume, and balance, before translating them into monumental creations.
The gesture
The craftsman’s process begins with the gesture, from what is crafted by hand. He draws his inspiration from childhood. Ideas come alive when he rediscovers a child’s capacity for amazement, the freedom to play, and boundless curiosity that gives life to his ideas. This creativity is structured by mathematical precision. Using his compass, he draws lines of unparalleled precision, turning his craft into a kind of calculation. This unique fusion allows him to create pieces both technical and poetic, which he likes to call “elegant solutions”.
Transmission
Collaboration and transmission are fundamental in Ulysse’s workshop. Interns are deeply involved in monumental works, engaging in a synergistic “four hands, two brains” process where everyone’s ideas cultivate the common work. The aim is to awaken a creative spark in young talents.
Due to the physical demands of manipulating and crafting his monumental artworks, the Fondation Rémy Cointreau assisted Ulysse in acquiring a forklift. This tangible support is crucial for enhancing his working environment.
Bruno de Maistre is a cabinetmaker, furniture architect, and a laureate of the Fondation Rémy Cointreau. Working from his workshop in Auffargis, Bruno has been crafting wood for almost 15 years. In this new episode of “Artisan of the Month!” , discover his journey and his story.
The trade
While some episodes have already highlighted woodworking, this one will explore the universe of Bruno de Maistre, where wood fosters a dialogue between tradition and innovation. There are many wood artisans, yet they all share a common thread: a love and respect for this living material. This ancient craft boasts a wide range of applications, and furniture creation constitutes an essential part of it. Following a career in communication, Bruno found his passion in cabinetmaking, where he crafts unique pieces. He uses precious and solid woods for his creations, which is fundamental to furniture design.
The gesture
The cabinetmaker’s craft is extensive, rich in multiple gestures. But if you ask Bruno, he would reveal his special affection for marquetry. Marquetry is far more than a technique: after precisely cutting the veneer sheets, it’s when you begin to assemble them that you start writing veritable stories with the wood’s designs. Each grain, each nuance becomes a word, each assembly a sentence, and that’s how the story within the wood is told, page after page, in his marquetry pieces.
The transmission
The cabinetmaker’s trade is currently experiencing a constant transformation and adaptation to new developments. For Bruno, this evolution presents an opportunity to unveil the individual’s potential, to educate the craftsmen of tomorrow by broadening their perspective on the richness of this profession. It is, above all, about passing on passion’s flame, teaching traditional know-how, all while fostering innovation and creativity.
In woodworking, the planer is an essential reference, guiding the entire production process. Offering accuracy of a tenth of a millimeter, this machine has received support from the Foundation for its acquisition by Bruno de Maistre.
In this new episode of “Artisan of the Month,” discover the work of Alexandra Latour, embroiderer and 2023 laureate of the Fondation Rémy Cointreau. In her workshop, she defends the craft of embroidery, guided by her ethical and environmental values.
The Trade
Embroidery is a valued art form with a history stretching back to the Middle Ages, when silk, gold, and silver threads embellished court garments, royal furnishings, and liturgical vestments. t is a way of drawing and sculpting fabric with thread and a needle. After graduating from École Boulle and accumulating experience within renowned houses, Alexandra founded her own workshop. She perpetuates tradition there by handcrafting embroidery projects, while also modernity with her work on the Cornely machine.
The Gesture
Behind every embroidery lies a gesture that combines technical precision with artistic freedom. Each movement is an intimate and deeply personal engagement with the material. There’s no strict protocol; the embroiderer is led by creativity and inspiration, thanks to Alexandra’s favorite tool, the Cornely. Thanks to its versatility, this machine provides a true playground of possibilities for crafting unique visuals, elaborate applications, and inventive motifs. It allows embroiderers to explore new textures and play with volumes and colors, thus transforming each piece into a textile work of art.
The Transmission
As a fundamental pillar of French craftsmanship, embroidery consistently stands out, holding a privileged position, especially within the world of haute couture. It embodies historical savoir-faire passed down through generations. For Alexandra, the mastery and transmission of the Cornely technique is crucial. This initiative allows for the reinforcement of local production and the centralization of French manufacturing, thereby guaranteeing the quality and authenticity of the creations.
In this new episode of “Artisan of the Month,” discover the story of Maxime Perrolle, wood sculptor and 2023 laureate of the Fondation Rémy Cointreau. Currently based at the JAD, he concentrates his work on the contemporary creation of unique objects, where each piece tells us a story…
The Trade
Woodworking stands as one of humanity’s oldest professions. It has evolved considerably over the centuries, from the primitive hand tools inherited from our ancestors to today’s advanced machining. However, many crafts continue to passionately work with this noble material. Each artisan, with their own approach to wood, works it with their body, senses, and deep understanding. Trained as a cabinetmaker, Maxime Perrolle is above all a wood sculptor. He creates unique pieces, turned, sculpted, and burned using tools that have barely changed since antiquity.
The Gesture
The tools, precise gestures, and age-old techniques of wood craftsmen vary considerably depending on their specialty, creating a real alchemy between the craftsman and the matter. Maxime believes that mechanical tools, despite their advancements, create a barrier, a brake between the artisan and the wood. He feels there’s a direct and intimate connection with the wood that can only be achieved with hand tools. His favorite gesture is the use of a wastringue which allows a strong relationship with the wood. Thus, shapes quickly emerge under his hands, offering a certain satisfaction.
The Transmission
Passing on one’s know-how to future generations is certainly the most important thing for a craftsman. It implies sharing the mastery of the gestures and techniques that define his art. Maxime’s wish is to perpetuate the heritage of traditional tools, an objective that inevitably passes through transmission.
Sophie Théodose is an illuminator and a 2022 laureate of the Fondation Rémy Cointreau. For two decades, she has been bringing exceptional creations to life in her workshop with passion. This new episode of “Artisan of the Month” features her story, shared with candour and honesty.
The Trade
Illumination is a centuries-old craft with a rich heritage that goes back well beyond the Middle Ages. This is defined as “decorating a manuscript or picture book with painted decorations”. While decorated capital letters, ancient books, religious scenes and the Middle Ages are often associated with this art form, this vision remains reductive. Today, illumination thrives in a variety of fields, driven by the desire to create beauty, to highlight a subject and to embellish the world around us, as Sophie Théodose explains. In her workshop, she perpetuates the tradition of working with parchment, a material used since the Middle Ages, which she then sublimates using natural pigments and gold leaf.
The Gesture
Illumination is an art that requires incredible patience and concentration. In Sophie’s atelier, a strict control of hygrometry is essential to optimise the reaction of the parchment. She adjusts the ventilation in her workshop, soaking up its unique atmosphere. Every gesture is precise and confident; there’s no room for hesitation or trial and error: “When it’s in your head, it’s in your hands”, as Sophie says.
The Transmission
Currently there is no professional training school for illumination in France. So, the know-how is passed on through courses offered by associations or professionals. For the illuminator, transmission can be summed up in one word: necessary. She looks for motivation in her apprentices, prioritising a practical approach where you learn by doing.
History is an important link between Sophie‘s expertise and the Fondation Rémy Cointreau. Strengthened by this link, the Foundation has supported the craftswoman in the acquisition of a made-to-measure workbench, designed to optimise the storage of her parchments and adapt perfectly to her working methods.
In this new episode of “Artisan of the Month!”, discover the work of Silver Sentimenti, ceramist and 2022 laureate of the Fondation Rémy Cointreau. Based in his workshop in Normandy since 2007, Silver creates unique pieces and limited editions in ceramics inspired by his professional experiences as a model-maker, tailor and costume designer.
The Trade
Ceramics is an age-old craft, handed down from generation to generation. The ceramist shapes the clay, transforming it from a soft material into a hard, unalterable object. They model, turn or cast the clay, then dry, fire, and decorate it using techniques ranging from patina application to glazing. This expertise comes under the umbrella of the art of fire, using heat to transform mineral matter. After a career in haute couture, Silver felt the need to reconnect with traditional craftsmanship. Ceramics, and its respect for the raw material, was an obvious choice. Silver brings together his expertise in textiles and ceramics to create unique creations. Each piece is meticulously perforated before being kilned. Once the clay has been transformed, he embroiders the piece with leather strips, creating a dialogue between the two materials.
The Gesture
The dexterity and precision of the gesture give each ceramic piece its unique personality. It’s a sequence of movements, repeated so consistently that they become almost spontaneous, creating a veritable choreography. Much more than a simple technique, the craftsman’s work involves a multitude of senses. For Silver Sentimenti, touch is essential. Direct contact with the raw material allows him to perceive all its subtleties, nuances and sensitivity. Even scent plays an essential role: the final application of beeswax or balsam to its creations releases a fragrance acting like a real Proust’s madeleine.
The Transmission
Passing on know-how is a fundamental value of a particular approach to the craft. It involves a deep relationship with the material, cultivated with the same care and passion as a love affair. This commitment requires continuous learning, a lifetime of training, in a constant quest for perfection.
To reach a wider market and work on large-format pieces, the Foundation has supported Silver in the acquisition of a ceramic kiln.
