LIFE BEYOND FIRST CLASS
DESIGN & ARCHTIECTURE
THE REVIVALIST
From Paris ateliers to global luxury boutiques, Lison de Caunes revives the ancient art of straw marquetry with visionary elegance, infusing interiors with soul, texture, and timeless craftsmanship.
KATHERINE GANNON
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Top: Cartier Rue de la Paix - Paris, France
Bottom: Guerlain - Champs-Elysées, Paris, France
There is an unmistakable serenity in the work of Lison de Caunes. The soft sheen of rye straw, the geometry of her patterns, and the precise hand of the artisan come together to create something deeply beautiful. For more than thirty years, she has devoted herself to the revival of straw marquetry, a decorative art that once flourished in the seventeenth century and later found prominence in Art Deco interiors. Through her Parisian atelier, she has brought this rare craft into the present with clarity and elegance.
Her passion is rooted in family history. Lison is the granddaughter of André Groult, a celebrated Art Deco designer who once embraced straw as a primary material. While restoring his original pieces, she became captivated by its luminous quality and the contemplative process required to shape it. That early exposure led to a lifetime commitment to the craft. Today, Lison de Caunes is considered the foremost expert in straw marquetry, sought after by collectors, interior designers, and global luxury brands.
Among her most notable recent commissions is the bespoke straw marquetry she created for Cartier boutiques. At Cartier Geneva, her work animates the interior with a glowing palette of gold-toned straw panels, forming graphic motifs that echo the house’s legendary panther and sun themes. In the private lounge, warm straw textures envelop visitors in a space that feels intimate and refined. In Paris and Lisbon, she introduced additional variations, adapting the language of marquetry to reflect each boutique’s architectural identity while preserving a consistent level of sophistication.
Her collaborations extend beyond the world of jewelry. She created custom panels for the Bulgari Hotel in Paris and contributed to Guerlain’s boutiques, including the landmark location in Paris and the famed Harrods store in London. In each setting, her marquetry is tailored to the environment. These are not ornamental backdrops, but living elements within the architecture, responding to light and movement with subtle energy.
Above: French Presidential DS N°8
Below: Le Taillevent - Paris, France
In her own line, Lison de Caunes Créations, she produces limited pieces that range from decorative boxes and folding screens to furniture and custom panels. These works reflect her distinctive aesthetic, combining classic materials with contemporary patterning. Her recent trio of marquetry boxes—Étoile de Mer, Les Oranges, and Treille et Raisins—pay homage to her grandfather’s sketches, interpreted through her own lens. The next chapter will introduce designs with mother of pearl, gold leaf, and inlaid hard stone.
At her atelier in the sixth arrondissement of Paris, the work is done entirely by hand. Each stem of rye straw is split, flattened, polished, and applied with meticulous attention to detail. The results are tactile and architectural, bridging traditional craft and modern design. Clients are welcome to visit the studio by appointment and often do, drawn not only to the beauty of the pieces but also to the rare opportunity to witness a heritage process in action.
Above: Bedroom by Gatserelia Design - Paris, France
Below: Hotel Bulgari - Paris, France
As the design world leans toward sustainability, authenticity, and craftsmanship, straw marquetry finds itself back in the spotlight. Thanks to Lison de Caunes, the art form has moved from museum restoration to cutting-edge design commissions. And while her work is undeniably luxurious, it never shouts. It whispers. It glows. It invites closer inspection and rewards it every time.
Above: Flat by Walid Sfeir - Paris, France
Below, Clockwise from left:
Medusa Lamp - Lison de Caunes Créations
Lotus bench seat - Lison de Caunes Créations
Madras Table - Lison de Caunes Créations
In a season devoted to warmth and gathering, her creations offer a timely reminder. Some of the most meaningful design is not about trends. It is about skill, tradition, and an unwavering commitment to making beauty by hand.
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