Trois Chamois et Deux Vallées

Thickness of the legs the chamois stands on: 0.4 mm

Micro-sculpture — 2022

The request came from a colleague who wanted to portray his three children, who were going through a difficult time. We had talked a great deal, and I was doing my best to lift his spirits.

One day I brought him a sketch with a phrase that captured the scene. Surprised and moved, he asked me to make it into a real knife.

When I handed him the finished piece, he thanked me, and I understood from his eyes what it meant to him. We are still in touch today, and his family situation has improved — to my great joy.

This experience opened my eyes to another side of the craft: the importance of the bond with people, of discovering who they are, their stories and their destinies. It also made me grow. Facing a friend’s deep sorrow moves you to the core.

Genesis of the work

The making of the piece, from the first sketch to the finished knife.

01
Before the steel is cut, several designs are studied to arrive at the knife’s final shape.
02
A first draft brings out the composition of the scene and tests its proportions.
03
The first silhouettes take shape in the steel. Every gesture demands extreme care, and the slightest slip can compromise all the work done.
04
Small cavities are carved at the handle so the wood grips perfectly.
05
Once the sculpture is complete, the knife is fitted with riveted rosewood, shaped by hand.
06
The rivets, made of silver and shaped like chamois hooves, echo the knife’s theme.
07
The signature I give every one of my knives.
08

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