Have you visited the Révélations biennale before? What qualities do you look for in the artisans you choose to collaborate with?
Each edition, I attend with curiosity and make pivotal connections at Révélations. I discover talent, ingenuity, and a true renewal of craft techniques. What I seek above all is expertise, a deep-rooted knowledge of the craft, and virtuosity driven by meticulous attention to detail.
How has this fair contributed to the realization of projects like the Orient Express?
I met Jean Brieuc Atelier at the 2022 edition of the fair. Specializing in furniture and wood decor, he helped me develop his wood embroidery technique, which was applied to the headboards adorning the Orient Express. I also had the chance to exchange ideas with Jouffre France, whom I’ve known for a long time. We took the time to sit down and discuss the feasibility of the project.
How do you integrate artisanal craftsmanship into your projects? Do you approach it more from a traditional or innovative perspective?
There is no innovation without tradition and cultural heritage in our field. A perfect example is wood embroidery, which we incorporated into the New Orient Express: an exquisitely intricate design applied to curved, lacquered panels. Jean Brieuc and I spent over 20 months developing and finalizing the train’s model. He had never experimented with his technique on such a scale—let alone on curved panels that also vibrate.
Have you observed a shift in how the public or private clients perceive craftsmanship in recent years?
Nothing significant or innovative can be accomplished without artisans. Without creators by our side, we can draw and design as much as we want, but nothing will materialize. The era of image-for-image’s-sake is over. A “big” name without a quality orchestra will produce no music—unless they can whistle extremely well.
What are you hoping to discover at this year’s biennale?
I come with an open mind. While there are sometimes few true "revelations," the biennale is above all a chance to confirm artisans' talent. Excellence demands constant innovation, dialogue with peers, and the ability to reinvent oneself with every project. An artisan who limits themselves to merely replicating their craft without research or evolution is destined to fade away. French artisans and master craftspeople, however, are continuously called to new revelations.
"An outstandingly innovative and incredibly precise workshop, they excel in combining multiple skills on small-scale objects. We have developed numerous prototypes for the Orient Express with them and continue to do so."
"Jean Brieuc is both a virtuoso and a perfectionist, capable of refining a technical detail to its highest level of coherence. That’s exactly what we did with his wood embroidery on the New Orient Express. He is also inquisitive and unconventional, always bringing something extra to the table."
"Etienne is a Master Artisan sculptor. I’ve known and worked with him for over 30 years. He blends tradition with innovation and possesses an exceptional ability to integrate his work seamlessly. His contribution was invaluable in the comprehensive design work for the Orient Express."
"The Rolls-Royce of seating—true expertise in comfort and the perfect form. Their skillful combination of materials and fabric pairings makes all the difference. For the Orient Express, their research on foam types for railway and maritime projects was outstanding."
"I recently discovered this workshop thanks to Etienne Rayssac. Franck Benito, a Master Artisan, manages to modernize crystal lighting through meticulous work on thickness, engraving details, and overall finesse. This fusion of tradition and modernity is exactly what we strive for in the Orient Express."
"I truly enjoyed working with the exceptional expertise of Tapis de Bourgogne to develop all the rugs for the New Orient Express. Their mastery blends ancestral craftsmanship with remarkable innovation. The carpet industry has largely been outsourced, but they continue to produce in France—something rare and truly admirable."
