Arts and crafts in Biot

When walking down Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris, I stopped short in front of a beautiful exhibition of silver jewellery at the Galerie du Siècle. I never imagined that the encounter would change my life. It was in July 1962. In September, I was in Biot. I had just turned over a new leaf of my fifteen-year career as a jeweller and began working alongside the great Swedish jewellery designer Torun, with whom I would work as an assistant for six years. Thus, a new French contemporary jewellery “school” was born in Biot.

During this same period, young art school graduates enticed by great artists like Picasso, Fernand Léger, Matisse, and Chagall, began to flee the capital to start a creative adventure near the sites chosen by their prestigious elders. Thus began the sun rush to destinations like Biot, Vallauris, Saint-Paul de Vence and Cagnes-sur-Mer.

In part, thanks to the diversity of professions. In part, thanks to passionate people who chose to work in a cooperative way. In part, thanks to the concept that was chosen: to take turns working in a boutique that sells everyone’s creations. Finally, in part thanks to the desire to create exclusive objects, in terms of both their technical and artistic qualities.

We invite you to come be a part of our passion on a visit to the Boutique, on the church square in Biot’s historical centre.