Rose Saneuil & miniature marquetry (Guest Post, Part 1)
by Rose Saneuil
“To master the technique is to free oneself; reinventing tradition means participating in its conservation; going beyond one's limits is a step towards creation. My art is, above all a story of passion, conviction and visceral attachment to the art of transforming matter into imagination.
I imagined my own technique, now registered - multi-material marquetry. I make exceptional, magical pieces for prestigious sponsors: precious boxes for major luxury brands, watch faces and jewellery for the great watchmakers and jewellers of Place Vendôme.
Sycamore, meshed plane tree, walnut burl, bone, straw, mother-of-pearl, leather, amaranth, zinc, shagreen, parchment, corian, brass, gold leaf, beetle elytra and eggshell, the materials meet and harmonize through my creative gesture.
Everything starts from a drawing which is materialized by a careful selection of materials, the arrangement of which resembles a rebus, where each word finds its meaning only through the coherence of the sentence I want to write.
By my gestures, the suppleness of the leather merges with the hardness of the mother-of-pearl; the softness of the wood harmonizes with the dynamics of the straw; the shine of gold blends with the dullness of bone ...
A very singular alchemy which can be discovered over the course of the gaze like a hilly landscape that must be tamed day after day.”
The process begins by a coloured sketch, followed by the selection of materials, after which the original sketch is reproduced on Adobe Illustrator software. Rose associates every section to the desired material, to be used prior to making the piece.
Further examples.
Rose has worked for many watch companies making dials, one of the most prestigious being Piaget.