Craftsmen and Companions

Tours

3 August

Tours was top of the list for places Chris wanted to take me, as he had spent time in the area in February and had got to know the place quite well. Our main destination was the Musée du Campagnonnage, but we also managed to go for walks along the river and around about. There is a good mixture of the old and new here and we both enjoyed the atmosphere.

A ‘companion’ is an expert in a particular trade such as carpentry and other trades involving wood, saddlery and other leather trades, metalwork such as locksmith or workers of wrought-iron, stone-masonry, slate tiling, cake and pastry work, textiles and a myriad of other trades. To become a companion you have to present a work of art that will be judged. If good enough you will be accepted as a companion. The museum is devoted to such works of arts in many, many trades and also to the tools of the trade. The works presented are of amazing quality and, often, intricacy. The model of a wrought-iron park gate took 14 years to make, for example. The finishing and balance of models of curved staircases are also wondrous. Let us not linger by the pagoda made of sugar or the model of the Hospice de Beaune made of pasta, beautiful works of arts though they may be.

The works of the craftsmen are well worth the visit and in addition there is the history and evolution of this and similar societies and the decorations of recognition of skill, such as canes and coloured sashes.

No photos in the museum but there are some of Tours in the sunshine.

Photos at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/101628277989220379025/Tours