NICOLAS BONNET
Stonemason
At the age of 16, I started my tour of France with the companions. I travelled for 11 years and I finished my tour with a last stop in Egypt in Cairo where I worked for a year and a half, first to the restoration of the Cathedral of Cairo and then to the restoration of the Sinari Palace (palace where Napoleon and his scientists were housed during the Egypt campaign) under the orders of Bernard Maury, an architect specialized in Egyptian heritage.
I was awarded Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 1998 at the age of 27.
I moved in Dannemoine, near Tonnerre, where I created L’atelier Nicolas Bonnet in 1999.
After two years on my own, I decided to buy the buildings of our future workshop which is now located in Arces Dilo.
The company grew and over time we acquired the status of LIVING HERITAGE COMPANY.
During these 20 years, more than 80 employees/students have worked in the workshop, more than 25 apprentices, itinerants of the Tour de France, as well as trainees.
Our company is characterized by three main activities: traditional stone cutting, restoration and preservation of historical heritage, we also do a lot of work in decoration, marble and we are also quite famous for the realization of stone stairs. We specially care about this last activity because it is very technical and it is a tradition that’s getting lost. Our last activity is the techniques of restoration and creation of open fireplaces, we have acquired a real reputation regarding this particular know-how.
L’Atelier is attached to share its know-how. Our door is always open for all those who want to discover or train in our profession. It is a real commitment for us!
Jean-Michel Lorain
The specificity of my know-how is to be the result of the work of 3 generations who worked to create the restaurant Côte Saint-Jacques and make it a unique house nestled on the banks of Yonne river
Pontigny on the way to get its luster back
He undoubtedly masters art and orality, the head of the foundation that today bears his surname. Or even repartee, not devoid of a touch of humour, when he is asked to give his definition of contemporary art, answering a shifted question from the audience!