Pierre-Henri Beyssac – Wood marquetry

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes – 1983

Pierre-Henri Beyssac is a wood marquetry artist. He has always had this passion for the material and also for manual work. Indeed, he completed specialized trainings, first a cabinetmaking CAP, then a FMA and finally a DMA in marquetry, at Ecole Boulle. Afterwards, he completed a 6-month internship in carpentry, and then left 6 months in Italy at the European Center for Restoration where he discovered the methodological diversity of his know-how.

At the end of his university studies, Pierre-Henri Beyssac was in charge of developing the marquetry workshop at the Institut Régional des Métiers d’Art on Reunion Island. A year later, he returned to France and worked at the Spindler marquetry workshop in Alsace where he stayed 9 months. Very quickly, he became a professor at Ecole Boulle where he taught his skills while working in his workshop in Montreuil. At the same time, he was awarded Meilleur Ouvrier de France.

Finally, in 2016, he left Paris to set up his workshop in the south of France in Aix-en-Provence. Since 2019, his workshop is located in Saint-Thomas-en-Royans. There he restores furniture and creates unique pieces of furniture or objects. He says that he draws with wood and highlights the materials and their texture. With his saw, scalpel, scraper, and hammer, he makes whatever he conceptualizes, usually for individuals, architects, decorators, artists, and even galleries.

2015 – Meilleur Ouvrier de France

Research and innovation

Pierre-Henri Beyssac’s style is modern. He pushes marquetry further with a mix of traditional and innovative techniques and try to bring his know-how towards art. Also, he collaborates with different craftsmen or designers, as with Stéphanie Lacoste in 2015. Together, they try to take advantage of textures, colorations and thicknesses of wood and fabrics. In fact, the objective is to create a link between the two know-how. He also collaborates with designers, such as Dimitri Hlinka, or artists such as Cédric Peltier for the realization of a fresco in the Cartier boutique in Lucerne.

Will to transmit

Pierre-Henri Beyssac taught his know-how at Ecole Boulle. His desire was to pass on his craft and to ensure its continuity. Today, he is a member of the jury of the DNMADE furniture restoration at Ecole Boulle. Moreover, he welcomes trainees in his workshop.

Pierre-Henri Beyssac had an equipment issue. That’s why he approached the Fondation Rémy Cointreau, which helped him acquire a hydraulic press