Jacob Debord at the Antoinette Poisson workshop - 2017

We have an appointment at Antoinette Poisson's À Paris studio. This trio of domino makers: Julie Stordiau, Vincent Farelly and Jean-Baptiste Martin, is installed in a pretty courtyard in the 11th arrondissement of Paris and has been hosting Jacob Debord, winner of the Savoir-faire en transmission prize, for a year's training since the beginning of the year.

As we walk through the door, we enter an atmosphere that mixes styles: rococo, fabrics transcribed in dominoté papers and more geometric and floral motifs.

The founders present their activity: dominoterie, hand-painted papers, printed on a plate using engraving techniques. A unique and forgotten know-how that they want to revive in the respect of the 18th century craft processes. In addition to wallpaper, this technique is also used to make fabrics or decorate objects.

The space is set up with a sales room, a meeting area for special orders and the workshop. This is where we find Jacob, working. He introduces us to his sidekick, an old engraving press that he bought by breaking his piggy bank. It is beautiful, imposing and very photogenic.

We wanted to know a little more about Jacob Debord, so we asked him a few questions.

Tell us a bit about yourself, about your background...

"I am an engraver and printer in intaglio and intaglio. After my DMA in engraving, obtained at the Estienne school, I took a year to discover the professional world through several internships: in a paper mill, in an engraving workshop and finally, in a printing workshop. I love the world of paper and ink, travelling from workshop to workshop. »

How did you hear about the Know-How to Transmit Award?

"I heard about it through a friend who did it and was subsequently hired. It made me want to try it myself. »

Why did you apply to In Paris at Antoinette Poisson?

It was my mother who, while reading a magazine in the doctor's waiting room, came across an article about this workshop. She called me directly and I came to ring their doorbell spontaneously to explain my application for the "Savoir-faire en transmission" awards.

What are your main tasks and projects this year?

"I do the stencil printing and colouring. It is a hybrid technique of engraving. 

At the beginning of the year I worked on the Maison et Objet show and on the catalogue of the new collections. We also produced 800 sheets to decorate a stairwell. It was a real challenge to print such a large quantity. At the moment, we are working on a printed wallpaper project to decorate the sales areas of the Château de Versailles. »

In a one-to-one meeting with the team...

Can you tell us about Jacob's course, his daily life in the workshop?

"Jacob was invited to discover all the techniques and facets of the company's activity. He works on prints, which are unique because they are all different. He has also been able to practise finishing, which requires repetition and great rigour... This year's internship has enabled him to continue learning and improving his skills. »

Do you plan to be hired later on?

"We don't know yet, nowadays young people need to see other things before they settle on a job. »

Jacob, for his part, confided to us that he had a few projects in mind, but not concrete enough to be revealed yet.