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The Masterly Hand

  • Men and trades
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  • History
  • The masterly hand
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Our collections

Stone : Choose a masterwork...

Escalier autour d’une bouteille en pierre
Staircase around a stone bottle

This reception masterpiece was created in 1979 by “Gascon la Persévérance de Valence-d’Agen”, Companion Mason-Stone Dresser des Devoirs. The steps are not glued onto the bottle constituting the central newel, but are an integral part of it.

Photo R. Nourry
La voûte de Genève
The Geneva vault

The Geneva vault is a model created in 1964 by “La Sagesse de Monthodon”, Companion passant Stone Dresser du Devoir. Its apparent simplicity masks major construction difficulties, as each stone had to be meticulously shaped to enable it to pass semi-elliptically from a (square) platband entrance to a (round) exit beneath the arch. It is only with mastery of stereotomy – geometrical design applied to stone-cutting – that stone dressers can imagine, design and build edifices of such highly complex form.

Photo R. Nourry
Sphère en staff
Staff plaster sphere

This staff plaster sphere is the reception masterpiece created by “La Sincérité de Valençay”, Companion passant Plasterer du Devoir (1990). Presenting a range of construction difficulties, the piece gives the illusion of rotation, and is very close to being a decorative work of art.

Photo R. Nourry
Chef-d’œuvre du compagnon Bonvous (détail)
Companion Bonvous’ masterpiece (detail)

The great masterpiece of the Companion passants Roofers du Devoir of Angers was undertaken in 1913 by Companion Alfred Bonvous the Elder (“Angevin la Clef des Cœurs”) and his son (“Angevin Cœur de France”). The latter was killed at Verdun during the Great War and, faced with a wide range of construction challenges, his father continued with the creation of this monumental work on his own, completing it in 1922 after a total of 3700 hours of labour. The roof is comprised of almost 8000 slates, some of which are cut to form maxims, coats of arms, and the name of the son who died for France.

Photo R. Nourry
Détail de la flèche en ardoise découpée
Detail of spire in slate cut-outs

The cut-out slate spire is a masterpiece of patience and skill, created for the simple pleasure of Companion Roofer Pierre-Germain Philippe, nicknamed “Rennois la Promptitude”, in the early 20th century. The little panels of split slate are pierced, cut out like lace, filed down and then assembled.

Photo R. Nourry
Escalier autour d’une bouteille en pierre
Staircase around a stone bottle

This reception masterpiece was created in 1979 by “Gascon la Persévérance de Valence-d’Agen”, Companion Mason-Stone Dresser des Devoirs. The steps are not glued onto the bottle constituting the central newel, but are an integral part of it.

Photo R. Nourry
La voûte de Genève
The Geneva vault

The Geneva vault is a model created in 1964 by “La Sagesse de Monthodon”, Companion passant Stone Dresser du Devoir. Its apparent simplicity masks major construction difficulties, as each stone had to be meticulously shaped to enable it to pass semi-elliptically from a (square) platband entrance to a (round) exit beneath the arch. It is only with mastery of stereotomy – geometrical design applied to stone-cutting – that stone dressers can imagine, design and build edifices of such highly complex form.

Photo R. Nourry
Sphère en staff
Staff plaster sphere

This staff plaster sphere is the reception masterpiece created by “La Sincérité de Valençay”, Companion passant Plasterer du Devoir (1990). Presenting a range of construction difficulties, the piece gives the illusion of rotation, and is very close to being a decorative work of art.

Photo R. Nourry
Chef-d’œuvre du compagnon Bonvous (détail)
Companion Bonvous’ masterpiece (detail)

The great masterpiece of the Companion passants Roofers du Devoir of Angers was undertaken in 1913 by Companion Alfred Bonvous the Elder (“Angevin la Clef des Cœurs”) and his son (“Angevin Cœur de France”). The latter was killed at Verdun during the Great War and, faced with a wide range of construction challenges, his father continued with the creation of this monumental work on his own, completing it in 1922 after a total of 3700 hours of labour. The roof is comprised of almost 8000 slates, some of which are cut to form maxims, coats of arms, and the name of the son who died for France.

Photo R. Nourry
Détail de la flèche en ardoise découpée
Detail of spire in slate cut-outs

The cut-out slate spire is a masterpiece of patience and skill, created for the simple pleasure of Companion Roofer Pierre-Germain Philippe, nicknamed “Rennois la Promptitude”, in the early 20th century. The little panels of split slate are pierced, cut out like lace, filed down and then assembled.

Photo R. Nourry
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Musée du
Compagnonnage
de Tours

8 rue Nationale
37000 Tours
Tél. 02 47 21 62 20

  • Home
  • The guilds
    • History
    • The masterly hand
    • The reigning spirit
  • Practical museum
    • Opening and admission
    • Groups
    • Library
    • Agenda
    • Actualités
    • Photo gallery
  • Young visitors
    • Families
    • Schoolchildren
  • Genealogy
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