SizesThe Fouque family: Four generations of santonniers
1892
Jean-Baptiste Fouque wins the 1st Prize of Sculpture and the 1st Prize of Painting of the Beaux-Arts.
1934
Jean-Baptiste creates SANTONS FOUQUE in Aix-en-Provence. His son, Paul, is 13 years old. On the advice of his father and brother, Paul makes his first model of clay santon. At their side, he acquires the techniques of sculpture, modeling and painting. Jean-Baptiste decides to take a place at the Fair of Sainte-Barbe to sell his santons and thus creates the first fair santons of Aix-en-Provence.
Jean Baptiste Fouque and his son Paul at the Fair Santons of Aix en Provence.
1947
Paul Fouque gets married and settles at the Pont des Trois Sautets in Aix-en-Provence. In the footsteps of his father, he too becomes a santonnier. He works with his wife. The beginnings are difficult in the small workshop. He makes a complete collection of santons for the Christmas Fair.
1952
Creation of the famous "Coup de Mistral ©".
After having long observed the attitudes of "people in difficulty in the wind", including a shepherd, Paul Fouque materializes the movement of the flying mantle in the mistral. The "Coup de Mistral ©", exclusive creation of the Maison Fouque deposited at the I.N.P.I., Is today considered the masterpiece of the art of santon. It is known and collected around the world.
1957
Installation of Maison Fouque at 65 Cours Gambetta in Aix-en-Provence, its current location, at the foot of Sainte-Victoire mountain. Four people work in the family business.
1965
Following the example given by his father and grandfather, Paul and John the Baptist; Mireille, initiated from his childhood to the art of the santon, this year creates his first terracotta model at the age of 15 which is presented at the Salon International Santonniers in Arles, "the Virgin and Child ".
1968
Consecration of Paul Fouque who obtains the Gold Medal of the National Competition of the Best Craftsman of France for a nursery that asked him 1000 hours of work.
1970
Five people are now working with Paul and Paulette Fouque.
1976
Mireille Fouque wins the Vermeil Medal at the Regional Exhibition of the Best Workers of France. At Maison Fouque, she creates numerous models and promotes the Art of Santon, regional traditions and customs, in France and abroad (New York, Geneva, Rome, Tokyo ...), by organizing many exhibitions and participating in conferences given on the theme of Provençal culture.
1987
Paul Fouque retires. Mireille takes the direction of Maison Fouque. His sense of communication allows him to position the Maison Fouque on an international level. The company then goes from 7 to 20 artisans.
1990
Maison Fouque lists its collection of nearly 1800 different models.
1994
Creation of the Fouque Association by Mireille Fouque whose purpose is to "perpetuate, transmit and promote Provence, its culture, its know-how and its traditions in France and abroad". Many international actions are organized each year at institutions: Embassies, House of France, consulates and tourist offices abroad.
2001
Mirelle Fouque receives the title of Citizen of Honor from the City of Aix-en-Provence, the Medal of the City of Meyreuil and the Medal of the City of Paray-le-Monial.
2002
Official celebration of the Jubilee of "Coup de Mistral ©", 1952-2002, in the presence of many French and foreign personalities.
2004
The House is 70 years old.
No reception is organized because of the death of Paul Fouque that same year.
2005
Mireille Fouque receives the badge of Knight in the National Order of the Legion of Honor and, also, the Prestige of the French Provinces. The same year, she was inducted into the Academy of Arts and Beautiful Letters of Provence.
2006
Emmanuel Fouque, got an engineering degree and worked in a pharmaceutical company for 7 years. He joins Maison Fouque to work with Mireille Fouque as a family.
2007
The Ministry of Commerce and Handicrafts awards the prestigious national label "Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant" to MAISON FOUQUE.
Emmanuel Fouque creates his first models which will be added to the collection of the Fouque family. < / p>
2009
The Chamber of Trades sets up the Crafts Route. Maison Fouque is chosen for the inauguration and the launching of this event.
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the creation of the SANTONS FOUQUE in Aix-en-Provence, the Maison Fouque organizes a large exhibition "The Provence of the Great Painters ». This exhibition presents the masterpieces of the Maison Fouque through the major themes immortalized for over a century on canvas by the great painters who came to Provence (Cézanne, Picasso, Buffet ...) and in clay by the Fouque family.
Mireille Fouque is named Knight of Arts and Letters by the Ministry of Culture and obtains the title of Master Craftsman who constitutes the highest artisanal distinction.
2010
La Maison Fouque becomes "Atelier d'Art de France".
2011
Emmanuel Fouque, who creates new models each year, makes a goose Ravie-Guard which is a great success.
2012
Jubilee of the creation of the model of "Renaude", the companion of the famous "Coup de Mistral ©". Launch of punched and numbered models for this event on June 15, 2012.
2014
Maison FOUQUE is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its creation.
Officially contributing to the programming of the Mistral Year, Maison Fouque pays tribute to Frédéric Mistral for the 100th anniversary of his death.
Mireille Fouque and Emmanuel Fouque and his wife perpetuate family spirit and ancestral know-how by working together.
In the workshop of Aix-en-Provence and its country house, Mireille Fouque shares her love of Provence with her guests. Through the seasons, traditions have always been a part of his daily life. With passion Mireille Fouque and works for its great pleasure and that of its visitors, the famous Art of Living Provencal. It perpetuates the traditional spirit of this region unique in the world far beyond Sainte-Victoire. She is regularly invited in prestigious exhibitions and thematic conferences organized in France and abroad.
Since the arrival of the 4th generation Emmanuel Fouque
Fashion designer Emmanuel Fouque and his wife, Catherine, perpetuate the family spirit and ancestral know-how, working together as their forebears once did.
For several years now, Emmanuel's little cousin and his wife (Alexandre and Emilie) have also joined the adventure, and it is in this family spirit full of authenticity and passion that the reputation of Maison Fouque continues to soar.
At their workshop in Aix-en-Provence, the Fouque family share their love of Provence with their guests. As the seasons go by, traditions have always set the pace of daily life. Maison FOUQUE passionately cultivates the famous Provençal Art de Vivre for the pleasure of its visitors. An art of living, based on ancestral traditions, that the Fouque family promotes far beyond Sainte-Victoire, at prestigious exhibitions and themed conferences organized in France and abroad.
