L'art du Rocailleur

The first mention of “rocailleur”, the profession of making garden furniture and structures in concrete made to resemble wood - “faux-bois” (meaning fake wood) – was in 1845 in Paris. It was largely used in the Buttes Chaumont gardens (1866 to 1869), and by 1860 to 1870 became a popular type of décor in many public and private gardens: rock formations (in the Bois de Boulogne), terraces, foot bridges, fax trees and tree stumps, guard rails, fences, benches and tables, etc…

The most productive period for faux bois was between 1870 and 1910, when many people were building suburban homes.

Technically, on an first iron structure was laid a first rough layer of cement or concrete. After drying another layer was laid. The final layer required bare hands and a light often colored artistic touch to give create the illusionary effect of imitating nature.

These pieces were often done by gardeners or masons.