Tear Up Festival 2026
26th - 30th August 2026
FRANCOIS DESPLANCHES
Join Francois for this OVAL FITCHED TRAY x3 day workshop.
The legend that is Francois Desplanches is returning to Tear Up for 2026! Over the x3 day Workshop Francois will teach an oval fitched tray. The oval openwork base is made with a hoop and willow sticks fitched together. The stakes and by stakes are scallomed on the base and then fitched, waled and bordered with a 7 behind two rhythm. Two twisted handles, and two wooden feet will be added to complete the basket.
After a career in water and environment engineering, Francois switched careers to become an artisan basket maker in 2001. He lives in a small village in French Dordogne, where he also grows willow.
Francois specialises in scallom works, particularly fitching, frame basketry, breton basketry, and scuttle work but has also taught basketry in France, Germany, Spain and the UK.
He is a member of the Basketmakers’ Association, the French Professional Basketmakers’ Union and the German network Verein Flechtwerk.
He then started an intensive process of self-training, completed by a five-day internship at the Villaines les Rochers cooperative at the start of 2001.
He is considered by many as the G.O.A.T. His work is a source of inspiration and a joy for all of us.
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED