Jean-Paul Rossi

Jean-Paul stands as one of the last masters in the Bauges region, dedicated to preserving the ancient craftsmanship of wooden crockery turned on a pole lathe.

A native of the Bauges, Jean-Paul holds an intimate knowledge of his massif—its history, traditions, and woods.

For six decades, he has meticulously upheld age-old techniques to craft pieces that unveil the technicality, finesse, and nobility inherent in his artisanal expertise.

Wooden tableware originating from the Bauges earned the title "Argenterie des Bauges" from the Bishop of Geneva in 1645. However, its roots in the region trace back to the 14th century. This so-called "poor person's" crockery was handcrafted in the nearby woods by skilled artisans who shaped a myriad of objects: bowls, cups, pockets, bolletons, spoons, and more. It was then sold by itinerant vendors.

Each piece, unique in shape and purpose, was turned with green wood—a departure from the conventional wood lathe—ensuring durability over time and resistance to breakage. These timeless objects, simultaneously raw and delicate, hyper-sensitive, narrate tales of history, manual labor, a bygone era, and carry profound meaning.

Following the sale of two of his pieces at the Auction House at Piasa, over a hundred pieces have come together in Paris for an exhibition, some surpassing two decades in age.

The La Maison de Commerce team journeyed to Savoie to retrieve them from Jean-Paul Rossi's attic. For him, disseminating awareness about this crockery is paramount, ensuring that this ancestral expertise is not lost.