Marc Ricourt draws his inspiration from the ancient utilitarian object of the vessel. He comments that, ‘I’ve based my work around a simple but very essential object, as it was the first tool created and used by mankind… My work on vessels has allowed me to develop a relationship between ancient or geographically remote cultures and civilizations and modern creations. The most important facet of my work is the research and exploration of new forms, colours, textures and finishes.’

Marc sources the wood he uses from his local landscape in Dijon, France. He initially turns on a traditional lathe and then intricately carves and treats the surfaces through bleaching, dying or an application of ferrous oxide, to explore the vessel through organic shapes that often recall seedpods and coral, as the artist carves undulating lines and delicate linear fins.