STUDIO WORKSHOP
A&A is the collaboration between Australian industrial designer Adam Goodrum and French marquetry artisan Arthur Seigneur. Focused on the creation of collectable objects celebrating the kaleidoscopic visual effects of straw marquetry, A&A pieces are always unique with every detail fully bespoke, representing a synthesis of design innovation and traditional craftsmanship. Their process driven practice explores the limitless possibilities of colour and pattern through an interplay of grain direction and reflection that is brought to life through the singular properties of rye straw.
A&A’s ethos rebels against consumerist post-industrialised society’s demand that objects be made faster and in multitude. Straw marquetry, with its lengthy handmade preparation and application process, has the luxury to be the opposite and when blended with 3D geometry, pattern and bold colour seeks to elicit curiosity, wonder and joy.
STRAW MARQUETRY
Straw marquetry is the art of handcrafting decorative patterns from ribbon-thin, flattened slivers of rye straw. Individually tinted, the stems are imported in small batches directly from France. Each stem is dyed, opened and flattened into fine strips. It is then inlaid by hand, edge to edge on paper or wood until the entire surface is covered. Patterns are achieved through careful pre-planning and expert execution. Since every single strand of straw is unique, each piece of furniture is truly bespoke: no two are alike, each project is a one-off. The flexibility of the material allows us to apply the straw to any shape. We have developed techniques with custom tools that allow us to apply curved patterns to 3-dimensional forms.
Contrary to common perception, straw isn’t fragile. In fact, once applied, rye straw is inherently durable, creating a precious impermeable finish. Since every single strand of straw is unique, there is a natural irregularity which when laid creates a painterly quality.
