Jean-Brieuc Chevalier is an exceptional cabinetmaker and marquetry artist who has been passionate about embroidery and woodworking since childhood. He accidently combined both while preparing for his DMA (Diplôme des Métiers d’Art) in cabinetmaking, when he came up with the idea of sewing on wood veneer to solve a technical problem. After this masterstroke, Jean-Brieuc decided to continue exploring the unique craft of embroidery on wood. In 2012, he set up a workshop in Angers to design and make wooden furniture and decorative objects. He has been using the exceptionally painstaking technique ever since.

Created in 2023, the prize-winning Mille Fleurs is undoubtedly one of Jean-Brieuc Chevalier’s most iconic works. The inspiration is medieval, but the craftsmanship is completely original. This lavish screen was designed as a tribute to the Millefleurs tapestries in the Château de Villevêque, near Angers. Made almost entirely of Japanese mother-of-pearl beads, the embroidery must be designed in advance on a computer, which determines the exact location of each hole. This technique allows the beads forming certain parts of the decoration to be sewn on entirely by hand with a needle and thread. It took three years to complete this outstanding work, which features a unique approach to wood that explores new combinations of traditional techniques and contemporary composition. Jean-Brieuc Chevalier collaborated on another outstanding, prize-winning design: the Kephri desk by OUD Architecture.