Since 1873, Auberlet & Laurent has been restoring, reproducing, and creating plasterwork and period decor. The company’s work transforms any interior into a unique space. A member of the Par Excellence New York collective, Auberlet & Laurent offers its expertise to private clients, professionals, architects, and interior designers. As an EPV (Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant) certified company, it creates cornices, rosettes, ornaments, mouldings, columns, stelae, consoles, and panels from its historical archives or its own catalogue, in compliance with the rules of proportion, aesthetics, style and architecture. Rather than being seen as outdated or overly opulent, plasterwork is experiencing a revival. Auberlet & Laurent has successfully brought its rare craftsmanship into the 21st century, meeting the needs of a highly demanding international clientele. The editorial team at Signatures Singulières Magazine went to meet this global benchmark in staff work!
Above: Thierry Lebufnoir, President of Auberlet & Laurent and Baptiste Lebufnoir, President of Auberlet & Laurent, USA. Right: Staff dome created for the Par Excellence New York showroom.
All the plasterwork art inherited from the Second Empire
During the reign of Napoleon III, plaster ornamentation became a hallmark of Parisian interiors. With its detailed chapiters, leaves, pearls, corbels, caryatids, cornices, and rosettes, plasterwork captured the very essence of Parisian elegance. The use of plaster in decoration was at its height. Not least thanks to the work of sculptors like Auberlet & Laurent! At the end of the 19th century, they decided to combine their efforts in the production and worldwide sale of decorative elements. After falling into oblivion in the mid-twentieth century, staff was given a second lease of life under the impetus of Jean Lebufnoir. In the early 1960s, the company began working with all types of plaster again. It also developed new techniques using stucco, silicone and synthetic resin. These innovations opened up unparalleled creative possibilities!
A age-old mastery of the plasterwork art
Auberlet & Laurent excels in the design, production, shipping and installation of its plaster decors and ornamentations. In keeping with traditional craftsmanship, the French company is known for faithfully reproducing damaged cornices, rosettes, and mouldings, while also specialising in creating complex, custom pieces in a variety of styles. With a collection of 5,000 models and a catalogue of 1,000 references, the company is an inexhaustible source of inspiration. What’s more, it’s constantly adding new elements to its creations! Through sketches, mock-ups and working drawings, its engineering and design department can also fulfil any request for a bespoke design. At its workshops in Villiers-Saint-Denis, the company’s passionate plasterworkers, ornamentalists and sculptors are able to come up with out-of-the-ordinary decors. It’s no coincidence that their exceptional creations adorn the Hotel Kinski, the Elysée Palace and the palace of the Sultan of Brunei.
Sublimating manual work through innovation
At Auberlet & Laurent, innovation is seen not as a replacement for manual craftsmanship – whose quality and precision remain unmatched – but as a way to optimise it. This combination of tradition and innovation has enabled the company to preserve a unique 100% French manufacturing heritage. Some of the company’s pieces are made using industrial processes, with resins incorporated into their design. This allows Auberlet & Laurent to create contemporary decorative elements that are as light as they are durable. Like these rosettes with their varied textures, which combine a staff core with resin ornaments!
To meet the challenges of sustainable construction, Auberlet & Laurent has set up a dedicated resin production workshop, focusing on the health and well-being of its employees. At the same time, the company is actively researching more environmentally friendly alternatives to these materials. The French company has also incorporated thermal and acoustic insulation into its decorative elements, ensuring its designs meet both aesthetic and technical requirements.
Auberlet & Laurent
8 Bd du Général Giraud
94100 Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Tél. : +33 (0)1 48 85 95 99
www.auberletetlaurent.com
