Her passion for Art and old Books dates back to when she was a high school student in Limoges. “I chose the “History of the Arts” option in the Arts specialty and it was a revelation. I took it in every option possible and imaginable, compulsory, optional and I even went to other people's classes because I loved it,” explains Luna Richard. With her general baccalaureate in hand, she enrolled in a degree in Art History and Archeology at the University of Poitiers.
“Three years that I enjoyed immensely but, afterward, I wanted a manual profession and not to go into research. I then headed towards what fascinated me the most in the history of art, namely everything related to restoration and the books particularly aroused my curiosity. »
Wanting to combine theory and practice and not seeing myself “returning to school after the license, I approached the training center in Lyon – the CFA of the SEPR – because it was one of the only centers to offer the CAP (certificate of professional aptitude) Bookbinding arts also in apprenticeship”.
A year at the Reliure Retière Boccard workshop
But he also had to find a company that would welcome him throughout the 2023-2024 school year. She first searched in Lyon and, given the numerous refusals she received, she extended her search to neighboring regions. One fine day, she browsed the approximately 400 work-study offers offered on the Lyon training center website and found the rare gem. “I was motivated and I watched everything. Among the mechanics, florists and other bakers, there was, in Marsannay-la-Côte, a bookbinding workshop which was looking for its future work-study worker. » An “announcement” that seemed made for her. “So, I applied to the Reliure Retière Boccard company. I met Maël Retière who is a bookbinder, restorer and gilder. She accepted my request,” she says.
“She taught me everything there was to learn in one year and even more. As part of the CAP, I have to know common binding and the basics of gilding. She gave me the basics but she also showed me her work on other projects, projects of a different scale with other techniques and other much more advanced methods. She shared everything, showed me everything and explained everything about restoring old books – something I would like to do eventually – even if I wasn't allowed to touch it. It was great to be able to see so many things and it really made me want to continue down this path. »
He added that bookbinding is “a demanding profession that requires attention to detail and patience. What is important is not to neglect any step because, if one of them is missed, it will have repercussions on all the others behind it. The defect will be visible no matter what we do afterwards. You can never slip up on binding because it will impact everything else. »
Luna Richard obtained her CAP with first class honors and enrolled in the Brevet des Métiers d'Art (BMA) Bookbinding Gilding at the Lycée du designgraphique et des professions du livre Corvisart Tolbiac in Paris. “I am now learning careful binding and that is what I love the most. » A two-year course with compulsory internships, including one of six weeks to be completed between the February and April holidays.
Land a job at the BnF
“I obtained a place at the National Library of France in the Department of Restoration of Related Objects on the Richelieu site. This is what I wanted to have as an internship,” she proudly admits.
After her BMA, Luna Richard is considering two options, either to enroll in the Hot Gilding Additional Mention, a course which exists at Corvisart Tolbiac, or to get a job straight away.
“And, if there is an institution in which I would like to work, it would really be the BnF in the Department of Restoration of Related Objects. In undergrad, it fascinated me to see such precious books in which there is incredible know-how. I had a course on everything to do with religious writings in the late Middle Ages, and I hope to one day be able to work on these books. It would be incredible” and, to make her dream come true, she is doing everything she can to get there.
Apprenticeship is the foundation on which the future of craft professions in France rests.
Yves Bard, vice-president of the BFC Chamber of Trades and Crafts, president of the Côte-d'Or delegation
France
Books
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