Courses resume in April 2027
Designer cardboard furniture and papier-mâché sculpture
Welcome to the world of Schmulb! Behind the name lie 40 years of experience as an artist, model-maker and designer of urban sculptures and sets – and a trainer who turns cardboard into whimsical, amazingly durable furniture.
The Schmulb method
Cardboard, reinvented since the 1980s
Developed in the 1980s, the Schmulb method gives great freedom of design, resulting in poetic lines and original shapes – in cardboard or wood.
Freedom of form
Curves, scrolls and fantasy shapes: break away from the boxy look of traditional cardboard furniture.
Built to last
An innovative construction method for cardboard furniture of excellent quality and exceptional strength.
Mixed media
Cardboard, papier-mâché, plaster, polyester resin: combining materials makes the possibilities endless.
Gallery
Cardboard furniture made at the workshop
Chairs, armchairs, chests of drawers, foot-shaped bars… Most of these pieces were designed and made by trainees during their courses at the Schmulb workshop.
Cardboard chairs
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Cardboard stools
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Cardboard armchairs
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Pedestal tables
View gallery →Chests of drawers
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Before finishing
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Foot-shaped furniture
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Bedside tables
View gallery →Expert level
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Giant furniture
View gallery →Papier-mâché
Papier-mâché sculpture and furnishings
Sculptures on cardboard armatures, organic furnishings and school projects. Discover hundreds more sculptures on our French site papier-mache.fr.
Papier-mâché course
Elephant, dragons, rabbit, geisha… made by trainees
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Papier-mâché furnishings
Organic furnishings for a cave-style attic
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Gloria column
A 3.20 m papier-mâché and plaster column
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Art at school
Carnival dragons and busts with schoolchildren
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Public art
A roundabout sculpture and a 108-metre fresco
A truck stuck in the ground surrounded by giant characters on a Perpignan roundabout, and a fresco of wooden panels carried by the Tramontane wind: two public artworks designed and directed by Schmulb.
Courses
Learn the Schmulb method in the South of France
Small-group courses at our studio near Perpignan, taught in French with a hands-on approach: watch, learn and do. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words!
Cardboard furniture courses
Learn to design and build your own durable cardboard furniture with the Schmulb methods, from a first bedside table to curved, expert-level pieces. Courses range from 40 to 1,200 hours.
- Structure, cutting and folding
- Drawers, curves and scrolls
- Kraft paper and finishes
Papier-mâché sculpture courses
Sculpt a character or an animal on a strong cardboard armature. Open to beginners.
- €490 – 1 week · 35 h
- €790 – 2 weeks · 70 h
- €990 – 3 weeks · 105 h
- €1,490 – 5 weeks · 175 h
Courses resume in April 2027. Workshops can also be organised in your region or country, provided participants share the travel costs.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Are the courses taught in English?
Courses are taught in French. However, the Schmulb method is very hands-on – you watch, learn and do – so with our limited English and a lot of goodwill, non-French speakers manage very well.
Where do the courses take place?
At the Schmulb workshop in Saint-Jean-Lasseille, near Perpignan, in the South of France. Workshops can also be organised in your region or country, provided participants share the travel costs.
When do the next courses start?
Courses resume in April 2027. Contact us now to be told the dates as soon as they are set.
Is cardboard furniture really durable?
Yes. The Schmulb method, developed in the 1980s, gives cardboard furniture a structure designed to withstand everyday use: chairs and stools that get rocked about, or a dresser whose shelves hold stacks of plates without sagging.
How much does a papier-mâché course cost?
€490 for one week (35 hours), €790 for two weeks, €990 for three weeks and €1,490 for five weeks.
Can I commission a piece?
Yes. We create promotional objects, one-of-a-kind gifts, large characters and carnival floats, and offer on-site artistic direction for events. Contact us for a personal quote.
Got a project or want to join a course?
Courses resume in April 2027. For courses, commissions or event decorations, get in touch – we'll reply as soon as we can.