There are more than 650 of them opening their doors free of charge to the public this Sunday. These are the artisans, their objective is to highlight their know-how and the talents that exist in Belgium. Meeting with three of them, a glass craftsman, a watchmaker and a harpsichord maker.
Three artisans master light, time and sound, perpetuating ancestral techniques. What do they have in common? Manual work that keeps tradition alive.
We feel useful in front of such beautiful works
Renaud is fascinated by light. 15 years ago, after careers in commerce and aviation, he turned to crafts. Today he is a glazier. “I learned this profession out of passion, it is both manual and intellectual work“, he says. According to him, curiosity is essential to constantly innovate.
His work mainly consists of restoring old stained glass windows, often from the Middle Ages. “It’s especially at the end, once the work is finished, that we are proud. We feel useful in front of such beautiful works“But he also likes to create.”It all starts with a drawing, then I make a pattern on tracing paper. It’s a relationship with people who love beauty, who are looking for a unique, creative, colorful piece. Playing with colors is magicale”.
The magic of time
Dominating time is another form of magic. Especially when a craftsman must tame the infinitely small. “Clocks all work the same, but each one is unique by the vision of its creator, and that’s fabulous“, explains Frédéric, a watchmaker for 11 years and a lifelong mechanics enthusiast.
For Frédéric, the important thing is not time, but customer satisfaction. “I don’t care about time, it’s paradoxical. If I thought about time, I would become an entrepreneur, but I am a craftsman. What matters is that the clock works well“It often exceeds the expected time for a restoration.”I want everything to be perfect. When a customer is satisfied, that’s what matters. We know when we start, never when we finish“.
2,300 recognized artisans
The artisans are not traders and obtained legal recognition in 2016. In Belgium, around 2,300 artisans are recognized, including 61% in Wallonia and Brussels. “It builds confidence“, notes Isabelle Morgante of the UCM. However, challenges remain, such as the demand to reduce VAT from 21% to 6%. “Otherwise, only the richest will be able to afford handmade products, and unskilled people could pose as artisans“.
The works of Jean-Luc, harpsichord maker, resonate in the four corners of the world. He built his first instrument in 1982, inspired by his wife Marianne, a harpsichordist. “The passion came thanks to her. She needed a harpsichord, so I made one“.
It’s an immense happiness
Self-taught, Jean-Luc learned his trade by observing and discussing with other factors. “There are the measurements, but also the feeling of the wood. Each wood is unique. Wood dictates to us how to work it“Making a harpsichord takes about a year.”The most exciting moment is when you hear the music that the instrument produces. It’s an immense happiness“.
Jean-Luc can count on Marianne, a demanding musician, to test his creations. “I rework the pen so that the sound evolves. It’s a continuous exchange“, she explains. “I don’t know how to play, but Marianne confronts him with real music“.
Pride in a job well done, the quest for perfection and respect for tradition are the common threads of every artisan.
Local craftsmanship Focus on watchmaking
