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MASTERPIECES OF
MEILLEURS OUVRIERS DE FRANCE

In October 1924, the first National Labour Exhibition was held at the Town Hall of Paris, during which 149 laureates were awarded the title of Best Craftsmen in France : "Meilleurs Ouvriers de France" (MOF). A few years later, the French National Society of the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France was created and was recognised as a public utility in 1952
The Apartment Bar
The desk
Who is Marcel Caillaud?

  • barThis egg-shaped Apartment bar with stand was made by Roger Maître, a cabinetmaker in Bignoux. It earned him the title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 1990 in the woodwork category.
    The upper half of the egg-shaped part opens by sliding into the lower part, giving access to a tray which is also removable and under which sits a semi-circular support.
    It is decorated with mouldings using cabinet-making techniques. It is made of wood: scabious abalone, walnut and sycamore; scabious abalone produces the remarkable marbling effects.

  • bureauThis desk is made of Rio rosewood with fine boxwood fillet inlay on the cylinder while the interior is lined with Norway birch. The opening of the cylinder automatically pulls out the inner shelf. The complexity and precision required for this piece of furniture took several months of work; the legs are cross-veneered and the sides and back are slightly rounded. The quality of André Dutheil's work is mainly explained by the training he received in Marcel Caillaud's workshop in Chauvigny and by the diversity of the rare species used.

  • Marcel CaillaudBorn in 1893, Marcel Caillaud started as an apprentice with Mr. Paul Caillaud, cabinetmaker (no family link with Marcel), in 1904. In 1909, he was a journeyman and worked until the beginning of the First World War as a cabinetmaker in various companies. After a few months in Chauvigny as an employee of the Industrial Society for Oak Parquetry, he worked at the cabinetmaking factory in Preuilly-sur-Claise, then at the Canat company in Rouen. In a letter, he says that he left Valenciennes where he was setting up shops. At the end of 1912, he lived in Paris and worked for a desk manufacturer, probably at the Jeanselme company (formerly the Jacob company founded in 1780); a few days later, he travelled to Lyon to work for J. Silvestre. On December, 1st 1919, he took over the cabinetmaking firm "Caillaud-Brouillard", which belonged to his first employer, with the promise that he would be allowed to come and go as he pleased in the workshop. With the expertise he had acquired during his "tour de France", Marcel Caillaud developed the company's activity and built up a reputation that was renowned in the region. He contributed to the local economy and trained many workers. One of them, André Dutheil, took part in the "Meilleur Ouvrier de France" competition in 1952 and, with the assistance of Mr Caillaud and the whole workshop, produced a piece of furniture that was awarded the first prize.