Franck Riester, Minister of Culture, presented this Tuesday, February 25, the insignia of Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters to ten luxury artisans working in the houses of the Comité Colbert.
The Colbert Committee, created in 1954, brings together French luxury houses, cultural institutions and European members. It has been working since 2006 for the distinction of craftsmen of its member houses among 14 categories of crafts (leather, gastronomy, vine, silver and bronze, haute couture and fashion etc). More than 50 artisans have been decorated in the Order of Arts and Letters for 14 years.
“Since 2006, the Ministry of Culture has been honouring the exceptional craftsmen of the Comité Colbert member houses. Once again this year, I am proud to recognize a new class of artisans, in order to recognize their invaluable contribution to the promotion of French culture and heritage. This recognition also highlights their essential role in transmitting information to the younger generation.” Franck Riester, Minister of Culture
True experts with unique and rare know-how, the artisans of the Comité Colbert houses combine demand, excellence and innovation at the service of the influence of French culture and art de vivre throughout the world.
The promotion of February 25, 2020 is composed of ten craftsmen, including 3 from Greece, Hungary and the Czech Republic, who represent 8 trades (leather, perfume, jewellery, goldsmithing, sewing, glass, pastry, porcelain):
- Anthony Delos, master bootmaker and workshop manager, Berluti
- François Demachy, perfumer-creator, Parfums Christian Dior
- Charalambos Georgiopoulos, master jeweler, goldsmith, Zolotas - Greece
- Gérard Grenier, silversmith-glider, Christofle
- Anne-Marie Legrand, costume designer, Opéra national de Paris
- Tomáš Lesser, master glass engraver, Moser – Czech Republic
- Christine Maquel, leather worker, head of the design office, Hermès
- Angelo Musa, pastry chef, Hotel Plaza Athénée
- Thi Thu Nguyen, leather worker, prototypist model maker, Louis Vuitton
- Ákos Tamas, designer and artist, porcelain, Herend – Hungary