People define the essence of our know-how

She holds a thousand-year-old savoir-faire in her hands: the art of the glassmith. She also holds colored sticks that she holds up to the flame of a blowtorch. Crafting beads and cabochons, pouring glass into metal. “This is a profession that can be learned in today’s world as an offshoot of glass-blowing training. Personally, I learned it here on the job, without a degree. I began my career at Desrues 16 years ago in the jewelry workshop before moving on to the glass workshop. After trying it for just one day, I remember saying ‘I’ll stay here, it suits me.’ Glass is a fascinating material. It’s hypnotizing to see it move and come alive. I get into a zone where I don’t notice anything around me: I am focused on the lava glowing under my blowtorch. It is an exercise that requires a great deal of patience and dexterity. You learn the techniques over time, feeling them out. I take sticks of solid glass in various colors and heat them up in the flame. When the glass becomes soft, I work with my thread and bring it the desired shape. I also have more than 500 molds available to me so that I can shape cabochons and beads that will go onto jewelry pieces for a collection. I can play with the material, for example bringing a more unusual, irregular effect to the surface. The setting for this work is extremely safe, innovative and challenging. I have been here for 16 years, and I learn new things on a daily basis.”