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Milan – France’s Furniture and Ceramics Industries Unite for Globalization
The French furniture and ceramics sectors are gearing up for a new era of globalization through their unification under a single cultural body. This newly formed alliance, called Manufactures Nationales — Sèvres & Mobilier National, aims to strengthen their position in the global marketplace while promoting their distinct artistic traditions.
Hervé Lemoine, a prominent archivist and chairman of the merged entities, expressed the need for a cohesive strategy to enhance the visibility of France’s artistic crafts. He highlighted the shared values among national manufacturers and workshops, including a commitment to long-term excellence and the role of furniture in defining iconic spaces across the country. “This new structure would provide greater visibility for our professions and missions, facilitating future budget negotiations," he said.
The integration of the two institutions, Mobilier National and Cité de la Céramique — Sèvres et Limoges, has been in discussion for years. Mobilier National, established in 1663 by King Louis XIV, has a rich history in supporting arts and crafts and houses a vast collection of 130,000 antique and contemporary pieces. Meanwhile, Cité de la Céramique was formed in 2010, combining important ceramic-related institutions, including the prestigious Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres and notable museums dedicated to ceramic art.
As the united entity embarks on its future, a key initiative is to establish a public apprentice training center by 2025, aiming to revive traditional crafts that are losing their teaching foundations. "It is essential to continue raising awareness among young people and to maintain financial support for micro-enterprises," Lemoine stressed. The initiative "Je Tisse Picasso" seeks to engage rural students with tapestry-making in collaboration with other cultural institutions.
France appears to be in a better position than Italy regarding the nurturing of artisan crafts, with a strong interest among young recruits. Lemoine explained that, as a public institution, artisans enjoy civil service benefits that promote long-term job security, thus encouraging a pursuit of excellence in craftsmanship. The new organization will operate with an increased budget of 51 million euros, reflecting the merged budget of the two institutions.
The merger was officially announced in January by Rachida Dati, the French Minister of Culture, as part of a broader strategy to protect and promote artistic crafts within France. This ambitious project was executed in a tight timeframe of just two years amidst complex political and budgetary considerations, according to Lemoine.
Mobilier National has a long-standing reputation for preserving historic furniture within key public spaces, including the presidential palace. As the organization modernizes, it is also incorporating contemporary design, partnering with emerging designers based on rigorous selection criteria that prioritize both aesthetics and sustainability. Recently, they have acquired innovative pieces, such as a lamp crafted from recycled seashells and furniture made from predominantly recycled materials.
Among future initiatives, the organization plans to commemorate the centennial of Art Deco by lending its collection to various cultural institutions and inviting designers to envision a “2025 style.” This initiative, titled “Les Nouveaux Ensembliers,” is set to debut at the Galerie des Gobelins in late 2025, showcasing the fusion of historical inspiration with modern creativity.
Informing these artistic endeavors is the economic significance of the craft sector in France, notably represented by small and medium-sized enterprises, which constitute the backbone of the nation’s economy. Despite challenges like inflation and rising shipping costs, the French handmade goods sector, which includes renowned products like wine and porcelain, remains robust.
According to a recent report from the Institut pour les Savoir-Faire Français, the craftsmanship sector has outperformed the pharmaceutical industry in revenue, generating approximately 68 billion euros compared to the pharma sector’s 62 billion euros in 2022. This sector encompasses 234,000 companies, highlighting the scale and importance of artisanal work in France’s economy, which includes artisans across various fields like woodwork, metalwork, and textiles.
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