Earthenware and umbrella restorer

Repair rather than throw away: what seems like a new idea today was everyday life in Provençal villages. The earthenware and umbrella mender was one of its key players. With a few tools and a great deal of skill, he glued, riveted and patched up what families could not afford to replace.

At 13 cm, this santon becomes a collector's piece, to display on its own on a shelf or at the center of a large Nativity scene. Lovers of old trades will find in it all the charm of the small craftsmen who brought village squares to life.

Making a piece of this size takes time. The original model is sculpted by hand by a member of the Fouque family, then reproduced using a plaster master mold and working molds. After assembly with slip, the clay dries for several weeks, then fires for nine hours up to 960 °C in a kiln left to cool for 48 hours. The resulting terracotta is as hard as brick.

Our large pieces are on display in our Aix-en-Provence shop-workshop, open Monday through Saturday. The santon is individually wrapped in paper and then bubble wrap, wedged securely in its box and ships within 2 to 3 business days.