Nicolas SALAGNAC
Graveur médailleur - Meilleur Ouvrier de France, Nicolas SALAGNAC - MOF
Nicolas Salagnac,
Based in Lyon, where the first French medal was cast over 500 years ago, engraver and medal-maker Nicolas Salagnac, voted the Best Craftsman in France fights tooth and nail to ensure that this know-how lives on.
At the age of 15, he found his niche in the field of steel engraving at the Ecole Boulle in Paris. He went on to become an apprentice designer for Cartier Haute Joaillerie, rue de la paix.
Aged 25, he took charge of the engraving workshop run by FIA (a subsidiary company of Augis in Lyon), where he gained invaluable experience.
At 27, he wondered: how can I learn and develop a technique that is not described in any manual? This incited him to run for the title of "One of the Best Craftsmen in France".
Three years later in 2000, the quality of his work was recognised by his peers; he became the Best Craftsman in France.
105 contactsTHE LYON WORLD HERITAGE MEDAL,
is a creation inspired by Lyon's inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This honour was bestowed on Lyon principally for its planning and construction around its long-standing ancient buildings. For in our city of Lyon, architecture spanning some 2000 years is to be found on our very doorsteps. The Lyon World Heritage Medal is issued by Editions Scriptoria.
"...Engraving is one of the most ancient crafts, its vocation is to leave its mark, deep in time. Yet engraving is an art which is gradually being forgotten. In this piece, Nicolas Salagnac evokes the fragile nature of his craft, the know-how that it entails, the tools that it requires and its transmission, the sole guarantee to prevent it from dying out.
The Lyon World Heritage Medal aims to celebrate this honour and brings Lyon's inscription back into the spotlights. Lyon's listing is a commitment, not an end in itself. We hope that this medal will help to heighten awareness as to the need to pass on a sense of our heritage to future generations. This issue of the medal not only embodies our City's past, but also serves as a reminder as to the need to protect and enhance both our tangible and intangible heritage."
Taken from a text written in late 2004 by
Jean-Pierre BOYER
Secretary General of the French National Commission for UNESCO
AN OVERVIEW OF HIS WORK
1997/2000
Medal produced for the "One of the Best Craftsmen in France" competition, subject imposed: Engrave a medallion by "direct etching" from a drawing by Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun, 18th century royal artist to Queen Marie-Antoinette.
http://www.nicolas-salagnac.com/blog/index.php/...
1997/2000
Medal produced for the "One of the Best Craftsmen in France" competition, chosen subject based on the theme of "One of the Labours of Hercules".
http://www.nicolas-salagnac.com/blog/index.php/...
2006
Gilded bronze trophy on a glass stand taken from a bas-relief sculpture.
Full height 600 mm.
http://www.nicolas-salagnac.com/blog/index.php/...
2005
Creation of a car plaque to commemorate the centenary of the Gordon Bennett Cup. Produced in gilded silver, solid silver and bronze.
http://www.nicolas-salagnac.com/blog/index.php/...
1990
Piece created for the Boulle School's arts and crafts diploma in engraving on steel.
Norway – embodying earth and water, but above all the force of its wildlife, its glaciers and fjords.
