Alberte Svendsen

Vasilantonaki, Elena

Straw marquetry maker

Playing with the gloss and glamour of straw

Alberte values preserving traditional crafts through modern design
She enjoys exploring geometric patterns in her work
Her final exam piece remains a work she deeply cherishes

Alberte Svendsen’s studio is set in the design hub of Copenhagen. Her journey as a craftsperson began in childhood, when wood carving sparked her fascination with working outdoors, connected to nature and the elements. This passion led her to train as a furniture maker. However, it was her travels that significantly shaped the evolution of her craft. In Paris, she immersed herself in traditional French furniture making, uncovering the delicate arts of straw and wood marquetry. A later trip to Japan expanded her skills further, exposing her to new materials and traditional Japanese techniques that shaped her design philosophy. By merging these almost forgotten crafts with Scandinavian minimalism, Alberte creates furniture that is tactile, visually stunning, and full of subtle details. Each creation draws the viewer in, providing fresh angles through delicately crafted, shimmering marquetry.

Interview

What inspires your marquetry designs?: I am inspired by the natural world, folk art, and mathematical patterns. I focus on how materials interact with light, especially straw, which can create optical illusions. I also love exploring geometry and how simple patterns can transform into something mesmerising.
Can you explain your final exam project, the Seaweed Cabinet?: I created the Seaweed Cabinet to bring together everything I had learned up to that point. I aimed for the design to reflect my journey as a craftsperson, blending traditional techniques with minimalist aesthetics. My goal was to showcase my skills in woodworking, design, and marquetry in one piece, using oak and many different types of veneer to create the marquetry shaped like seaweed inside the cabinet.
What was the biggest challenge in creating the Seaweed Cabinet?: The biggest challenge was definitely the five-week timeframe. I had to stay focused and prioritise the essential aspects of the design, namely the intricate marquetry. My goal was to create a cohesive piece that balanced my technical skills with my creative vision. In the end, I created a piece that I’m truly proud of.
What excites you about reviving ancient crafts?: I feel that traditional crafts, particularly those rooted in the folk art of various cultures, are often overlooked in modern design, yet they hold remarkable value. Reviving techniques like marquetry allows me to preserve their beauty while giving them new relevance in today’s design world. It is about honouring the past while pushing boundaries.

Alberte Svendsen is a rising star: she began her career in 2022 and she started teaching in 2022