TOUR ECOLE BOULLE
IN PARIS

Ecole Boulle is located in the traditional cabinetmaking district of eastern Paris, between the Bastille and Place Nation. It is one of the largest and most respected trade schools in Europe, with a full four year program, and recently celebrated its 100th birthday.

In addition to large traditional workshops in cabinet making, chair making, upholstery, finishing, carving, turning, sculpture, engraving, design, etc., there is a small "atelier" for marquetry, taught for the past quarter century by Dr. Pierre Ramond. I was very fortunate to be accepted into his program for three months in 1992. I returned each of the following 3 years to continue my studies, at which time Pierre suggested that I could receive his future 3rd year students in my San Diego workshop as interns. Since 1995, when I was accredited by ecole Boulle, I have received 16 student interns for stages from one to three months in duration.
There are a dozen "chevalets de marqueterie" in the marquetry workshop, and since each student needs his own chevalet, the class is limited to 12 students. Each student passes 2 to 4 years in the class, eventually completing a graduation etude in three copies, one of which stays with the school for future classes to study.
There are several 19th century cast iron, motorized jig saws and overhead saws, which are used for the largest and heaviest packets, as well as some of the finest detail on delicate pieces

The students perform various "etudes" in marquetry, increasing in complexity, using two primary methods:

  • The Boulle Technique, which requires cutting all the elements of the design simultaneously with the background.
  • The Classic Method, which requires that the design elements be cut independently of the background.
These last two photos show a piece made by the students at ecole Boulle, on permanent display in the decorative arts interpretive center at the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. This advanced Classic Method etude shows each of the pieces of the "puzzle" as well as the "puzzle" finally assembled.