In France, craftsmanship embodies not only our art of living, but also our history and know-how. Handed down from generation to generation, these often manual trades are an integral part of our wealth, reminding us of our origins. In a world where the virtual plays such an important part in our lives, craftsmanship brings us back to reality and honors the work of our ancestors. The craft of santon making is part of this tradition, and continues to create new vocations over the years. It's a profession with a future, but one with few chosen ones: there are around 150 santonniers in France. What does it involve? What opportunities are there? What training is available to learn the ropes? We tell you all about it.

What is the santonnier trade?

Have you always admired these little clay crib figures? Are you fascinated by the multitude of details that each santon displays? The santon maker's craft requires great patience and unique know-how.

This craftsman spends his days sculpting the many Provencal figurines that adorn Christmas cribs. Starting with a block of clay, he will model and sculpt a 1st model, which he will sacrifice to make a mother mold, which he also makes himself using plaster. He then produces each santon by loading the molds with clay, ensuring that the material takes on the desired shape. He then demolds the clay, which has taken on a human form, and makes various touch-ups by hand. The santons are left to dry in the open air for several days, then trimmed and smoothed by hand, before being fired in a kiln at 990 degrees for 24 hours.

After firing, the real work begins: painting each figurine to the finest detail and without burrs. Using a fine brush and acrylic paint, the santon-maker successively paints the face, hands, hair, clothes, accessories and finally the base. Some accessories, such as fruit or jars, can be varnished to give them a shine. The art of santon-making respects the habits and customs of the period, with modeling and decoration reproducing in miniature the traditional costumes of the 19th century.

The santon-maker's craft requires the utmost patience and meticulousness. As mentioned above, there are approximately 150 santonniers in France. These are logically concentrated in Provence, where the tradition lives on, around Marseille, Aix-en-Provence and Aubagne. Some 120 very small family businesses produce the santons that many French and foreign visitors come to admire and buy every year.

What opportunities are there for santon makers in France?

The craft trades are attracting more and more vocations. Many young people want to maintain and perpetuate French know-how. Until a few years ago, the santon-making profession was difficult to promote, due to its fragmentation. What's more, santon makers have traditionally relied on direct sales without intermediaries, thus limiting opportunities to increase sales. Nevertheless, this practice is gradually becoming more modern, thanks to the diversification of its sales channels.

Mainly sold at Christmas time, santons are also sold throughout the year. Indeed, in addition to being representations of the traditional nativity scene, for many tourists they are also a souvenir of the region and a decorative object to keep as a souvenir of their trip or as a gift for their loved ones. Santons are also exported to several countries around the world, including the USA, Switzerland, Benelux and Germany. The online store makes the purchase of santons accessible to as many people as possible.

Given the growing interest in santons both in France and abroad, we can only hope that the santon-making profession will continue to develop and attract new vocations among future generations.

Becoming a santonnier in France: what training is available?

If you want to become a santonnier, you have to think outside the box. In fact, there's no set path to get there. Traditional schools and training courses are non-existent. Most of the time, new recruits are trained by family businesses in the area. You can, however, take a ceramics diploma course to learn the basics of the santon-making trade. There are also a number of workshops offering introductory courses in clay and santon making. This can be the first step towards this unique craft.