the elm

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Elm

The elm is a majestic tree with a tragic destiny. It grows in the forest, in a protective hedge, or isolated in a clearing. But this tree develops better in the light, therefore mainly on the edges of the forest. Elms can reach 30 to 40 m in height when fully grown. The foliage is a beautiful green, the serrated leaf is very recognizable with its very marked veins, which grow asymmetrically on either side of the stem.

 

 

The wood

The wood is quite dark in tone, the grain fine and silky. The peculiarity of this species is that it is very prone to the proliferation of burls. A burl of wood is an anarchic agglomeration of cells, creating an outgrowth of wood. This one suddenly has a very tortuous and very irregular grain making the wood very beautiful and interesting to highlight.




			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				


Did you know? 


The elm has almost disappeared from our landscape, decimated by a disease, graphiosis, carried by a microscopic fungus, spread from tree to tree by tiny beetles or via the roots. 


The first epidemic appeared in the 1920s in northern Europe. It reached North America ten years later, via the transatlantic trade in contaminated wood. The second much more destructive epidemic began around 1960. It was caused by a new, much more virulent species of the fungus. The 27,000 elms in the City of Paris disappeared between 1970 and 1977. On French territory, the loss was 70% higher between 1975 and 1987. 


Today there are only immature elms left, since the fungus begins its work of undermining when the tree is 10 to 15 years old.









			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				


What uses? 


The elm was formerly planted abundantly in bocage regions to serve as timber. Resistant to water when immersed, like oak and alder, it was notably used for the hubs of watermill paddle wheels, as pilings and for gun carriages. Marine wood, it was still used in the 19th century for pumps, pulley boxes, bars. 


The hardness of elm has made it a working wood of choice, especially for screws, wheels, clogs, boat hulls. Used as bow wood, it was used to make bows. 


Today the elm still used comes from old stocks before the disappearance of these, or from trees of small sections. It is mainly used for veneer furniture, where the elm burl is revealed in its most beautiful aspect. 


For me, it is the wood par excellence that contains treasures of richness, movement and incredible inner life, just waiting to be highlighted.



			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				
				
			

				
					

			
					


				
															
Créations été 2023

					
					
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Cet été, peu de temps mais beaucoup de recherche et de créations en vu des salons de cet automne.


Quelques nouvelles tendances, avec un peu plus de couleur et de matière.


This summer, little time but a lot of research and creations in view of the shows this fall. Some new trends, with a little more color and material.

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
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Sculpture en olivier et perle de turquoise, dimensions: 25/35/8 cm.


Sculpture in olive wood and turquoise bead, dimensions: 25/35/8 cm.

			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
Cette vague de bois encercle comme un écrain une perle de turquoise.


This wave of wood encircles a pearl of turquoise like a jewel case.


 

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
Une incursion dans le mode métallique avec ce fond en inox brossé.


A foray into metallic mode with this brushed stainless steel background.


 

			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
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Loupe de chêne, bois très rare. Diamètre 35 cm.


Pour aller plus loin avec la matière, le fond devient plus texturé avec ce bois brulé et patiné.


Burr oak, very rare wood. Diameter 35cm. 


To go further with the material, the background becomes more textured with this burnt and patinated wood.

			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
Mise en situation.


 

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
Dentelle de bois en noyer. Dimensions 40/37/8 cm.


Lace of wood, walnut. Dimensions: 40/37/8 cm.

			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
Dentelle de frêne. Dimensions: 61/34/11 cm.


Ash lace, dimensions: 61/34/11 cm.

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				
				
			

				
					

			
					


				
															
Retour en image, exposition Beaune 2023

					
					
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Retour en image sur l’exposition à la chapelle St Etienne, à Beaune (21).


Retour en image sur l’exposition à la chapelle St Etienne, à Beaune (21).


Durant 15 jours, j’ai posé mes valises pour la première fois à Beaune. Dans un cadre vraiment inédit, puisqu’il s’agit d’une ancienne église réhabilité en lieu d’exposition,  cette quinzaine a été très dense, entre longues journées d’expositions, dégustation de vin et rencontres de touristes des 4 coins du monde et des beaunois.


 

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

					

                

                    
                

            

				

			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
La chapelle donnat sur une des places emblématiques de la ville du bourgogne.

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
De jour comme de nuit, les passants sont venus nombreux à notre rencontre.

			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
La vaste salle d’exposition.

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				
				
			

				
					

			
					


				
															
L’orme

					
					
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L’orme


L’orme est un arbre majestueux au destin tragique.


Il pousse en forêt, en haie de protection, ou bien isolé dans une clairière. Mais cet arbre se développe mieux à la lumière donc principalement sur les lisières de forêt.


Les ormes peuvent atteindre 30 à 40 m de haut à l’âge adulte.


Le feuillage est d’un beau vert, la feuille dentelée est très reconnaissable avec ses nervures très marquées, qui poussent de façon asymétrique de part et d’autre de la tige.


 

			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
Le bois 


Le bois est d’un ton assez foncé, le grain fin et soyeux. La particularité de cette espèce est qu’elle est très sujette à la prolifération de loupes.


Une loupe de bois est une agglomération anarchique de cellules, créant une excroissance du bois. Celle-ci a du coup un veinage très tortueux et très irrégulier rendant le bois très beau et intéressant à mettre en valeur.


 

			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
Le saviez vous?


L’orme a quasiment disparut de notre paysage, décimé par une maladie, la graphiose, véhiculée par un champignon microscopique, propagée d’arbre en arbre par de minuscules coléoptères ou via les racines. La première épidémie apparait dans les années 1920 au nord de l’Europe. Elle atteint l’Amérique du Nord dix ans plus tard, via le commerce transatlantique de bois contaminés. La seconde épidémie beaucoup plus destructrice débute vers 1960. Elle est causée par une nouvelle espèce du champignon beaucoup plus virulente. Les 27 000 ormes de la Ville de Paris disparaissent entre 1970 et 1977. Sur le territoire Français, la perte est supérieure 70 % entre 1975 et 1987.


Aujourd’hui il ne reste que des ormes non matures, puisque le champignon commence son travail de sape lorsque l’arbre à 10 à 15 ans.

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Quels utilisations?


L’orme était autrefois abondamment planté dans les régions de bocage pour servir de bois d’œuvre. Résistant à l’eau quand il est immergé, à l’instar du chêne et de l’aulne, il a été notamment utilisé pour les moyeux de roues à aubes des moulins à eau, comme pilotis et pour les affûts de canon. Bois de marine, on s’en servait encore au XIXe siècle pour les pompes, caisses de poulies, barres.


La dureté de l’orme en a fait un bois de travail de choix, notamment pour des vis, roues, sabot, coques de bateaux. Utilisé comme bois d’arc, il servit à la fabrication des arcs.


Aujourd’hui l’orme encore utilisé provient d’anciens stocks avant la disparition de ceux-ci, ou d’arbres de petites sections.


On l’utilise principalement pour du mobilier en placage, où la loupe d’orme se révèle sous son plus bel aspect.


Pour moi c’est le bois par excellence qui referme des trésors de richesse, un mouvement et une vie intérieure incroyable, ne demandant qu’à être mis en valeur.


 


 

			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				
				
			

				
					

			
					


				
															
The oak

					
					
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The Oak.


The oak is the most widespread tree in France, it represents 40% of species, hardwoods and conifers combined. Due to slow growth, in a forest it takes 100 to 150 years to reach adult size, but this slowness allows the oak to produce dense, hard wood that is valued for many uses. If left to live, the oak easily exceeds 500 years, and up to more than 1000 years, exceptionally. The oak grows only in the northern hemisphere of the planet. Although it prefers an open space in full sun, it can grow in all areas. It is found in arid zones (North Africa, California) as well as humid tropical zones (Colombia, Central America), or temperate zones (Europe, North America, Central Asia).









			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
Did you know? 


The oak symbolizes in several European cultures the durability. Oak weddings are celebrated after 80 years of marriage in the French tradition. A sacred tree among the Romans, Celts, Germans and Eastern Slavs, the oak symbolizes virility, strength, endurance and longevity. In France, the oak leaf also adorns the kepi of general officers and certain decorations such as the Legion of Honor and the medal of the National Order of Merit.

			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
Oak wood 


The wood has a medium grain, straight grain. The color can range from light brown to yellow brown depending on the variety. It is a species that is easily machined, giving a perfectly smooth and silky surface to the touch. Due to its slow growth, it is a very solid and very hard material. Its resistance to insects and fungi is very important thanks to its high tannin content.

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
What uses? 


In Europe, oak is widely used and cultivated for its wood, cork, bark and acorns (flour). Large planks of oak have been popular since the Middle Ages and were used to make carved interior woodwork in prestigious buildings such as castles, churches, as well as ornate joinery. Oak wood was used in Europe for shipbuilding until the 19th century and was the wood of choice in the construction of the frames of buildings in Europe (including Notre Dame de Paris). Today oak wood is still commonly used in joinery, flooring, and veneer production. The barrels in which red wines, sherry and other spirits such as cognac, scotch or bourbon are aged, are oak barrels. The oak barrels contribute to the vanilla flavor of these spirits. Oak wood chips are used for smoking fish, meat, cheese and other food products. It is of course an exceptional wood for sculpture, with incomparable solidity and a very beautiful finish.

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
Cork oak sculpture. The pattern of the wood is very marked due to its eventful life and its many attacks during regular bark pruning.

			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
Carved and textured oak sculpture.

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				
				
			

				
					

			
					


				
															
Throwback to the exhibition at the Galerie de la prévoté

					
					
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Throwback to the exhibition at the Galerie de la Prévôté, Aix en Provence.


In the company of my ceramist colleague Zani, every year we have the privilege of being able to install our works, the time of an enchanted parenthesis, in an extraordinary setting as only this city has. Leaning against the cathedral of Aix, with a direct view of its magnificent cloister, this gallery is a haven of greenery and calm. This year has been more eventful, due to the weather conditions but also due to the filming of a television series on the square in front of the gallery. Failing to open the gallery, it was an opportunity to see how a shoot goes, the incredible logistics that ensue and by the way, Zani was able to be one of the extras.

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

					

                

                    
                

            

				

			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				


For the upcoming series « The Plague », scheduled for 2024, the filming of riot scenes on the Place de l’Archevéché…