Between Craftsmanship and Tradition

Loire Ornements and its teams made a brief stop in Nièvre. Located in Maine-et-Loire, specifically in Le Coudray-Macouard, the company was founded in 2017 by Charlotte Duplessis and Luc Debourg. It specializes in architectural roof ornaments and roofing, working across France, particularly on classified historical monuments.

They arrived in a group of thirty to visit Murlin. With the beautiful weather, there was a vacation-like atmosphere, almost like a summer camp on this Thursday in March, the first day of spring, with an incredible 22°C temperature. At the front of the group was Charlotte Duplessis, the local of the day, as they say. Originally from Raveau, just a few kilometers from Murlin, she spent part of her childhood in the Bertranges Forest, building huts. Her father is none other than Jean-Claude Duplessis, well-known in the department and beyond. A renowned ornamentalist, twice named Meilleur Ouvrier de France (once as a roofer and once as an ornamentalist), he passed on his passion and craftsmanship to his daughter, Charlotte, who has proudly taken up the torch, partnering with Luc Debourg. When asked, “Why Murlin?” the response came quickly from the young business leader: “Because it’s a bit like home,” she said with a burst of laughter, adding, “Every year, we organize a multi-day trip with the entire team. And there is always a connection to our work, our crafts, our expertise, or our philosophy. So, coming to Murlin, to Charlois, makes sense for us.”

Curious Visitors

First, a presentation of the Charlois Foundation, covering the history of the group from its origins to the present. The audience is captivated and admiring, fully attentive. Then, it’s time to head to the cooperage, the log yard, the splitting of billets, and the sawing process. Every step is carefully observed, sparking questions from the ornamentalists and other roofers. One question, in particular, is about whether there are specific training programs for merrandiers. Maël, who is leading the tour, answers all inquiries: “There is no formal training for merrandiers. It’s a craft that’s passed down from generation to generation, from father to son, from the old to the young.” This resonates with Charlotte, who shares during lunch: “There are also no formal training programs or diplomas for ornamentalists. We are also about the transmission of craftsmanship, and there are many. From coppersmithing to cabinetmaking, sculpture, and metalworking, ornamentation is a blend of shared expertise.”

Transmit and Preserve

Just like Charlois, preserving and passing on sometimes centuries-old craftsmanship is a priority for the teams atLoire Ornements. Twelve ornamentalist companions are part of the team, each bringing their expertise. The visit to La Grange Cooperage left a lasting impression, as the similarities with the cooperage craft are striking. The common points between the two entities are numerous and are part of a process focused on valorization and preservation of heritage. On one side, restoring, recycling, and giving a second life to authentic works of art. On the other, restoring and extending the lifespan of barrels. Both work with noble, rare, and precious materials.

What Binds Us

As part of its commitment to valorizing 100% of the oak, Charlois has been implementing various initiatives for many years. Among these, the idea of repurposing merrain pieces that are too short for cooperage into oak tiles or shingles.s. An ideal material for roofing and cladding. This detail certainly caught the attention of Charlotte and Luc, who were very interested in the product. “We use shingles in some of our projects, but they are often made of chestnut. We are going to explore this idea further and see how we could potentially use Nièvre-made shingles in the future.”

Stéphane Ebel