Edition Four Feature
Words by: Benoît Vauthier and Manu Lerendu
Location: Vosges, France
Photo Credit: ©Benoît Vauthier and Manu
It was in 2012 that Benoît and I met in Canada, at the Institut Québécois d’Ébénisterie. Benoît, a former show lighting designer, had embarked on the study of fine craftsmanship because he wanted his creations to last longer than the fleeting time of a show. Meanwhile, I had trained as a cabinetmaker in France and wanted to complete my education by discovering how cabinetmaking is approached on the other side of the Atlantic.
During our three-year training course focused on the creation of fine crafts, we collaborated on competition pieces and won several prizes together. Building on this experience, we decided to join forces for the long term and to sign our creations under the Ben & Manu brand.
Before leaving North America, in August 2015, we embarked on a 13,000km road trip through the United States. Benoît and I were fascinated by the canyons, the mountains and the great outdoors, and we began a sketchbook that would inform our work when we returned to France.