Cooper's Tools

The Fonds Charlois for Art and the Forest recently acquired a set of cooper’s tools used by their former owner in the middle of the 20^e century.

The set includes around thirty tools made of wood and metal (adzes, compasses, cutters, broad axes, drawknives, branding irons, spokeshaves, augers, bung pullers, and bung cutters), the vast majority of which are still used today by the coopers of the La Grange cooperage manufacture, who craft custom barrels for a “confidential” production destined for the greatest wines.

During the visit to the Fonds Charlois, you will discover the work of the coopers of this exceptional workshop, where all the steps of barrel-making are carried out by hand: shaping the staves (hollowing, smoothing, tapering, jointing), assembling the body (raising the barrel), bending over a brazier and aromatic toasting (bousinage), final hooping, fitting the heads, and finishing touches.La manufacture tonnellière La Grange is all the more unique because modern cooperages are partially industrialized, retaining a few manual steps that cannot be mechanized, such as the use of the hammer and driver, the raising of the barrel, the toasting, the fitting of the heads, and still many manual operations for moving the barrels throughout the manufacturing process.

The tools on display, just like the historical iconography presented in the collections, thus echo the tools used by the coopers of La Grange and highlight the importance of preserving the gestures of these artisans who carry forward ancestral techniques and expertise.

While awaiting the opening of the exhibition spaces of the Fonds Charlois for Art and the Forest, continue to follow us on social media to discover the progress of the project and our latest news.

Visuals: Cooper’s tools © D.R.