The Heritage Craft of Maison Louis Drucker

Maison Louis Drucker is one of the exceptional ateliers we collaborate with to bring artistic concepts to life.

The renowned Parisian Maison worked with NYC-based design studio Aranda\Lasch, experts in creative coding and algorithmic art, to produce “Enlace,” our new collection of bistro chairs with digital art provenance.

As the oldest artisanal rattan seat manufacturer in Europe, Maison L. Drucker helped raise the modest Parisian bistro chair to iconic status through its keen attention to beauty and detail.

The company, dating back to the 19th Century, has a history of outstanding craftsmanship and has been recognized by the French government as a “Living Heritage Company” for its historical knowledge and cultural contributions.

From the earliest designs until present day, the Parisian bistro chairs of Maison Drucker have been crafted by skilled artisans who execute a thoughtfully planned artistic vision—one that takes careful account of pattern, color, and technique.

Known to work with contemporary designers to bring new models to market, the Maison was enthusiastic about working with the pioneering founders of Aranda\Lasch, artists of our Enlace series.

Benjamin Aranda and Chris Lasch visited the Maison Drucker atelier to learn how to apply their expertise in algorithms to the age-old craft of weaving.

With technical guidance from the Maison, they were able to refine their creative code to adapt to the physical constraints of chair manufacturing, resulting in innovative new designs that would embellish the classic chair frame with a fresh, modern look.

The code yields an endless variety of unique and extraordinary patterns impossible for a human mind to conjure at such a pace. But the hands-on expertise needed in production doesn’t change.

For each custom chair, a rattan worker must prep, shape and expertly mold the rattan wood; a frame maker must carefully design the structural elements depending on use; and a caning expert must bring lively individuality to each piece through the process of hand weaving.

This high level of craft that relies on centuries of accumulated knowledge—and requires years for an individual to perfect—is what inspires our quest for new collaborations under the Craft Nouveau umbrella.

Working with digital artists on the cutting edge of artistic technology allows us to bring an innovative approach to traditional arts, while at the same time preserving them.

Please visit our website to learn more about the Enlace bistro chairs by Aranda\Lasch and Maison Louis Drucker, and to experience the Enlace algorithm. Email [email protected] to inquire about a purchase.