Ornamentalist, an artistic profession, a rare profession

An exceptional job.

The ornamentalist is a true artist who reproduces identically, invents, draws and realizes ornaments which go from the decoration in architecture to the embellishment of decorations or objects. Thus, his creations are addressed to the painter as well as the stucco worker, cabinetmaker and goldsmith. We thus meet ornamentalists in typography, cabinet making, sculpture and painting.

A Rare Profession, A Profession with History

The profession of ornamentalist was born 200 years ago with the advent of lead, a material that could be transformed into malleable sheets. This profession has an ancient knowledge, which was modernized in the 19th century, during the industrialization with the appearance of lathes and many other tools.
Also in the 19th century, the urbanization plan of Paris undertaken by Georges Eugène Haussmann saw the roofs of the city dressed in zinc and equipped with many bull's-eyes and dormer windows (skylights) due to the development of the attic space.

 The activity of the ornamentalist is not limited to the Parisian roofs and the needs and orders emanate not only from all the regions accross France but also from abroad. The ornamentalist also creates finials, weathervanes, fire pots, and many other ornaments.
A large number of castles, religious buildings and historical monuments have ornaments dating from the 14th and 15th centuries, a period during which roof ornaments multiplied. The market for the restoration of architectural heritage today involves Europe as well as a few other countries, notably the United States, Canada and New Zealand.

Who is the Ornamentalist for?

The ornamental roofer responds to multiple and varied requests. They come from the State, local authorities, individuals, suppliers of metal roofing products and roofers who order various ornaments or metal elements such as gutters, finials, cornices, etc.

The Atelier Auder d'Ornements has, in this respect, reproduced the identical bowls (boxes for rainwater collection/drainage) for the National Assembly, (creation according to a model made, by Stéphane, a few years ago for the Assembly).

The skills of the Ornamentalist
 
The exercise of the trade requires several years of apprenticeship in a company with a master craftsman ornamentalist, because this profession is not taught in training centers. Stéphane Auder has been practicing this profession for 24 years, having spent 16 years as a Compagnon du Devoir Couvreur. A journey crowned by the title of “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” or “Best Craftsman of France” received in 2011.
The mastery of the following techniques is essential to the exercise of this rare
profession and to the realization of quality ornaments.

- Drawing, today in CAD

- Metals shaping

- Foundry

- Welder

- Fine boiler making knowledge

Tools of the Ornamentalist

A large number of machines is also necessary for the good practice of this trade: stamping press, embossing lathe, folding machine, guillotine, rolling machine, molder, beading machine.
The main materials used are: zinc (natural, quatrz, anthracite ...), copper and lead.

Stéphane Auder shares this ancestral know-how and mastery of the different techniques with his apprentices, to whom he passes on his knowledge and experience, thus contributing to the transmission of this knowledge to future generations.