The truly remarkable designs available on Invisible Collection would not exist without them: the amazing artisans who honed their skills through years of practice and dedication and are able to make beautiful objects with their hands. This art of making things is called superior craftmanship, it is what separates mass produced items from bespoke, distinctive designs that will stand the test of time.
France has a longstanding tradition of craftsmanship, which is regarded as a true form of art, and which resonates with the French decorative arts movement that flourished between the late 19th century and the 1940s. The Arts Décoratifs left an enduring mark in architecture and interior design, most notably by blurring the boundaries between fine art and applied arts: furniture pieces, textiles, ceramics, and lighting fixtures were created and looked at in the same way as a work of art would be.
Behind each beautiful design there is a master artisan who has a special connection with the designer. This collaborative relationship has always been essential: in the 1930s, the great Jean-Michel Frank agreed to redesign Nelson Rockefeller’s apartment in New York on the condition of bringing along the team of artists and artisans he used to work with.
That was then, but what about today? The need of personal connection has not changed. Only by working closely with a skilled artisan can the designer truly communicate his vision and see it become reality. In one of our videos on Invisible Collection’s YouTube Channel, star designer Francesco Balzano takes us “backstage” at the famed Ateliers Saint Jacques, where his iconic Swan tables are made. Founded in 1950, Les Ateliers Saint-Jacques are the specialists of metal work and wrought iron, cabinet making, stone & marble work, art foundry and restoration. Today, the workshops are constantly evolving by incorporating the latest technologies whilst passing down ancestral know-how to a new generation of apprentices. Each workshop has its research department to merge traditional and modern techniques.
Speaking of traditional techniques popular in France during the 17th and 18th centuries, straw marquetry was arguably one of the finest, often used to embellish furniture, decorative objects and even entire rooms. Today, it is practiced by a small number of artisans, including Lison de Caunes, the grand dame of straw marquetry. Her incredible work can be seen in elegant homes across the globe – and at The Townhouse, Invisible Collection’s home in New York where she adorned two elegant niches. This decorative technique involves arranging thinly sliced pieces of straw in intricate patterns that elevate the design.
The iconic sofas and armchairs available on Invisible Collection require the work of specialized upholsterers who can seamlessly integrate the different processes, from building the frame to dressing it. One of the go-to specialists is Atelier Jouffre, a French workshop based in Lyon. Besides delivering beautifully finished furniture pieces, Jouffre’s skilled artisans have developed new techniques for upholstering the most intricate frames. Everything is done by hand, and might take months to be completed… but it is certainly worth the wait!
Discover and shop our selection of one-of-a-kind furniture pieces created by star designers and handmade in the most renowned French ateliers.
