Ben & Manu

Cabinetmakers, sculptors, and founders of Ben & Manu

Ben & Manu is the duo formed by Benoît Vauthier and Manu Lerendu, two French cabinetmakers and sculptors based in La Petite-Raon, in the Vosges. Their collaboration began in 2012, when they met at the Institut Québécois d’Ébénisterie in Canada. After graduating, they entered several competitions in which their creations won awards, reinforcing their desire to continue their collaboration under the name Ben&Manu.

Upon returning to France in 2015, they set up their studio first in the Vendée, then in the Drôme, before settling in the Vosges in 2021.

Cabinetmaking has long been an art form dedicated to enhancing the beauty of furniture, in which wood was elevated by rare and precious materials. Now that these exotic materials have become readily available, Ben&Manu have chosen to redefine the very concept of preciousness. For them, the true riches of the contemporary world are now time, space, and contemplation.

This reflection gave rise to a unique approach: using their hands to bring forth sculpted landscapes on utilitarian surfaces. Going against the grain of industrial design—which tends to standardize objects and prioritize efficiency—they have developed a sensitive and poetic approach. Their creations seek to evoke emotion, catch the eye, and offer moments of contemplation and daydreaming in everyday life.