When did you decide to pick up this craft?
I have been tinkering since I was a child; we are 4 siblings, and we all went to the Ecole Boulle in Paris. I thought of becoming a cabinetmaker like my grandfather, but I had a great teacher for engraving, Pierre Mignot. Since then, I haven't stopped.
What do you love most about your profession?
I love the magic in the jobs we do: sometimes, it works, you're inspired and it's beautiful, it's right. And sometimes, by doing the same thing, it doesn't go so well and you are less inspired. This difficult magic is what makes it non-repetitive.
©Eric Doublet
What do people overlook about engraving?
Everyone knows what a medal is, but who knows how a medal is made? I think you have to have a real curiosity. There is a false sense of knowledge, that is what is difficult today. I want to tell people to have genuine curiosity for how things are made.
Could your craft be considered in danger?
It is a rare craft that I defend for its purity, technique and elegance. We must collaborate to break the codes and make unique pieces. For example, I am currently working with Serge Amoruso, a leatherworker in Paris.