Christine Vincent

Plume & Brin d'Osier

Willow sculptor

Handcrafting homes

Christine is a willow weaver who makes functional yet sculptural birdhouses
She uses basketweaving techniques to support the birds' livelihood through her designs
She grows her own willow, ensuring a deep connection between her craft and the local environment

Christine Vincent had been working as a pharmacy assistant for many years when she discovered basketweaving in 2000. She left her role in 2005, deciding to turn to a career in craftsmanship. Settling in Villaines-les-Rochers, a historic French basketry village, she learned from various artisans and opened her own workshop in 2010. Christine's passion for ornithology shapes her work, from her very first creation – a woven birdhouse – allowing her to fuse her two interests creatively. Unlike traditional utilitarian basketry, Christine experiments with techniques to create pieces inspired by nature. She grows her own willow which gives her complete control over her craft, from cultivation through to creation. Her innovative approach earned her recognition, including at the international craft biennial event Homo Faber 2024: The Journey of Life, held in Venice, reaffirming her place in contemporary basket making.

Interview

What makes your work recognisable?: I combine traditional basketry with my passion for ornithology to make woven structures like birdhouses with locally grown willow.
How did you begin?: I discovered this craft when I moved to live near Villaines-les-Rochers, a village known for basketry in France. I am self-taught and switched careers in my late thirties. I learned the craft from various basket weavers that I got to know during this process.
What do you enjoy most about your profession?: I love being completely independent, managing everything from cultivation to transformation without any other parties being involved.
Is there something about your work that people usually do not know?: The craft of basket weaving in itself is a mystery to people. It remains largely unknown to the general public and is often associated with travellers or older people in rural areas, who traditionally practised it.

Christine Vincent is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2005