Last Monday, in partnership with the Centre-Val de Loire region, the Prix départemental des métiers d’art award ceremony was held at the Chambre de métiers et de l’artisanat. Five Loir-et-Cher artisans took part in the competition, which was based on the theme of “RenaissanceS”: Jürgen Katzengruber, couturier-créateur in Savigny-sur-Braye, Nathalie Sizabuire, bijoutier fantaisie in Mesland, Nadège Patard-Lhermitte, creator of leather goods and maroquinier in Bonneveau, Olivier Vernet, stone sculptor-ornemaniste in Valloire-sur-Cisse, and Sylvie Jouzeau, painter-decorator in Vineuil. Starting at 3pm, each in turn, the candidates presented their work to a jury, chaired by Pierre Bouffart, vice-president of the CMA, and made up of partners and artisans or craftsmen from the department, including Cathy Aubin, 2018 winner.

Departmental councillor Marie-Hélène Millet described the Renaissance as an “inspiring subject”. “inspiring subject and underlined the interest of this competition “which allows artisans to get out of their workshops”.. For his part, Prefect Yves Rousset praised “the quality of the work and noted “the importance of showcasing arts and crafts”. According to the jurors, deciding between the competitors was no easy task. “but, as Stéphane Buret, President of the CMA, pointed out, that’s the rule of the game”.. The prize was awarded to Olivier Vernet for his tervoux salamander, “a firm stone harder than tuffeau but softer than limestone”. which cost him almost 100 hours of work, including drawing, clay modelling and the lost mould. “What I’ve done is what’s asked of me in my job”. said the young craftsman, who is currently working on the door frame for the church in Lassay-sur-Croisne.