“À la lueur des vagues”: A Screen of Light and Craftsmanship
The curator Élise Blouet-Ménard envisions the final piece as a demonstration of technical excellence and artistic synergy, bringing together rare techniques and materials in an innovative way.
“I am sure the result will be a unique piece of craftsmanship, mixing incredible techniques and materials. A beautiful screen that will outstand anything that has been done up to now.”
A Historically Significant Object in Contemporary Design
The curator’s decision to create a folding screen was based on its historical significance and modern design appeal. Once a popular item in previous centuries, folding screens were prized for their functionality and artistic detail, especially during the Art Nouveau period. Today, they are making a comeback in high-end interior design, including in the Louis Vuitton furniture collection.
“Nowadays, the visual side is more important than the practical. As a design object, a screen could be very interesting in modern interior design.”
Élise Blouet-Ménard
By choosing a screen as the focal piece, this project combines traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics, ensuring that the final creation meets contemporary expectations while preserving age-old techniques
Capturing the Movement of Light on Water
The way moonlight dances on the surface of the sea is ever-changing—shifting, shimmering, and creating an endless array of patterns. The folding screen “À la lueur des vagues” (By the Light of the Waves) captures this movement, exploring the fluid interplay between light, shadow, and texture.
Created as part of the Sulla Project, this exceptional screen combines three distinct artistic disciplines: engraved copper, woven silk and metal threads, and sculpted wood. The design presents a duality—one side embodies the deep, quiet mystery of night, while the other radiates the luminous glow of daylight. The result is a piece that shifts with perspective, just as the sea reflects the sky, blending elements of time, nature, and craftsmanship.
“Several innovations come together in this folding screen, making it an exceptional piece.”
Élise Blouet-Ménard
Innovative Techniques in the Screen’s Construction
- Silk and Metal Thread Weaving – Baroghel-Crucq’s method incorporates dyed silk and metal fibers, allowing the fabric to shift between opacity and transparency, mimicking the reflection of light on water.
- Leather Hinge Adaptation – Amato revived a historic leather hinge technique, modernizing it to provide both flexibility and structural integrity.
- Engraved Copper Plate Printing on Silk – Boucher developed a way to engrave copper plates and print their patterns onto woven silk, achieving a rich grayscale texture that evokes the sea’s movement.
- White Gold Leaf Gilding – Inspired by her research in Japan, Boucher introduced white gold leaf gilding, accentuating the play of light and reinforcing the screen’s visual depth.
A key challenge in this project was ensuring proper ink transfer from engraved copper onto the woven silk-metal fabric, requiring multiple rounds of technical refinement.
Symbolism Within the Screen: A Narrative in Materials
The materials selected for “À la lueur des vagues” are not only visually striking but also carry deeper symbolic meaning.
- Wood (Structure) – Represents stability and permanence, grounding the piece in natural form.
- Metal and Wire (Woven Fabric) – Evokes the movement and shimmer of water, reflecting changing light.
- Silk (Engraved Fabric) – Captures fluidity and transformation, mirroring the interplay of light and texture.
Together, these elements create a piece that mirrors the sea’s shifting identity, where reflections alter perception and boundaries blur between day and night.
Bringing Together Expertise Across Disciplines
This project was made possible by the collaboration of three highly skilled artisans, each specializing in a different craft:
- Fanny Boucher (Héliogravure) – A specialist in metal engraving and printing on fabric, Boucher has been applying her expertise to interior design and architectural applications since 2020.
- Morgane Baroghel-Crucq (Weaving) – An expert in woven silk and metal threads, she has dedicated her craft to art and design since 2014.
- Pino Amato (Woodworking) – A master in structural woodworking and veneering, Amato is known for his innovative approach to joinery and material assembly.
Their work required extensive experimentation, as their crafts are rarely combined in a single project. The result is a work that is both visually striking and technically sophisticated.
A Singular Achievement in Craftsmanship
The Sulla Project’s curator emphasized the unique nature of this screen:
“Each craftsman showcases his mastery and individuality while creating a whole and a uniqueness.”
As the first piece to successfully combine engraving, weaving, and woodworking in such a way, “À la lueur des vagues” represents a milestone in collaborative craftsmanship.
Showcasing at Journées Européennes des Métiers d’Art
The screen will be displayed at the Journées Européennes des Métiers d’Art in Mortagne-au-Perche in April 2025. This event is dedicated to showcasing exceptional craftsmanship. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the piece up close, observing how light transforms its appearance and how the materials interact to create a constantly changing visual effect.
Through this work, three master artisans have combined their skills to create a unique expression of movement, light, and artistic synergy.