Une journée exceptionnelle

Closely linked to tea ceremony, raku is one of the multiple philosophic ways that structure Japanese civilization. It incarnates a unique aesthetic, the “wabi-sabi”, focused on beauty in imperfection. During that day, you will be able to experience this art form with unexpected results.

The morning will be dedicated to enameling your pre-turned and fired bowl from Saint-Jean-l’Aigle’s faience factory. After firing the enameled biscuits, the participants will gather around an out-of-the-bag lunch. At the beginning of the afternoon, while the oven rises in temperature, the sculptor and ceramist Jacques Peiffer, author of the book “Raku”, will happily share his knowledge with you and answer your questions. When 950° C are reached, the spectacle of the pieces’ incandescence will begin. Bowls will be taken out of the oven while still hot and put in woodchips that will fire up. Natural coloring and cracking effects in the enamel will occur. After a quick cool down in water and a bit of cleaning, you will discover the results of this surprising firing method and you will be able to go back home with your bowl. 

About Saint-Jean L’Aigle faience factory

Established in the castle of a former forge master from the 19th century, this familial manufacture still conceives and makes the famous “Emaux de Longwy”. Four generations of the same family perpetrates this world famous expertise. To its head, Danielle Peiffer, faience-master and general director of the Saint-Jean-L’Aigle’s faience factory, and Jacques Peiffer, general administrator, ceramic science PhD and ceramograph expert. Saint-Jean-L’Aigle has a major role in historical research and keeps more than 700 volumes about ceramic techniques and rare archives. Its laboratory-workshop makes it a reference in terms of patrimonial restoration. We can cite, as an example of their craftmanship, the reconstitution of the sculpted cowls (each weighing 100 kg) of the roof of the Villa Majorelle (Nancy).

Its workshop, with 9 ovens (including the wood-fired oven from Longwy), produces Christmas ornaments, jewelry boxes, vases, subjects, trinket bowls… all 100% homemade.

Its private museum presents works of art made out of ceramic created by painters and sculptors like Picasso, Mucha, Majorelle, Mougin, Rodin, Gallé and great creators from Longwy who were inspired by China and Japan.

Registration

This workshop is fully booked. Another date may be programmed depending on demands. To be informed, please send a mail to animations@abbayepremontres.com specifying the following informations: name, surname, prefered workshop, number of participants and phone number. Should you have any question, please contact Natasha Miclot at +33 3 83 81 10 32 (Monday to Friday).

//Organization : Prémontrés Abbey cultural centre in partnership with Saint-Jean l'Aigle faience factory.//