Hervé Obligi is a French master lapidary sculptor whose work combines a sense of radical freedom with extraordinary craftsmanship.
Obligi’s designs are inspired by purity of form, precious materials, elegant lines and the graffiti and imperfect, weathered signage found throughout Paris. The opposing notions of high and low come together in the artist’s materials and designs. His bold, graphic designs and combination of precious and non-precious materials bring a contemporary edge to marquetry. Often toying with the notion of preciosity in his design process he questions where preciousness is found and who defines what is considered precious.
Obligi studied stonemasonry under the glyptician Claude Durand in Paris, and founded his workshop in 1985 right outside of Paris in Montreuil. All of his designs are handmade by the artist in his workshop.
The artist has designed works for storied luxury houses including Hermès and Boucheron, hard stone marquetry dials for Piaget, and decorative panels for Cartier’s boutiques in New York and Paris. In 2000, he founded the company CINABRE to promote and facilitate the development of larger projects for international decorators.
Not only is Obligi a talented designer, lapidary sculptor and marquetarian, but he is also a skilled restorer. He has restored precious objects for premiere national museums such as the Château de Versailles and Le Louvre, top antique dealers, and major auction houses including Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Artcurial.
Obligi has been the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions. In 2010, the workshop received the label of “Living Heritage Company” by the French Ministry of Economy and Finance which distinguishes French companies for their standard of excellence. He has worked at the National Heritage Institute since 1996. In 2015, he received the title of Master of Art awarded by the French Ministry of Culture for the singularity of his savoir faire. His work has been regularly exhibited internationally in Tokyo, New York, London, and in Venice at the Michelangelo Foundation’s Homo Faber exhibition. In 2022, Obligi’s work was recognized by the Centre du Luxe et de la Création who awarded him the Talent of Originality prize. In 2023, Hervé Obligi participated in the Hermès Academy of Savoir Faire on stone.
