Agnès Sevestre

A.S. Bronze d'art

Bronzesmith

©Florian Fidalgo

©Pascal Ménard

©Vivien Lavau

The many facets of bronze chiselling

Agnès sculpts metal using ancient chiselling techniques
She works with custom-forged tools
The transmission of her craft is a matter dear to her

Agnès Sevestre is a passionate artisan and the founder of Atelier A.S. Bronze d’art. She offers a contemporary approach to the ancient craft of chiselling. Whether it is jewellery, sculpture or framed work, Agnès turns brass, copper and bronze into delicate creations. Initially trained at the Ecole Boulle in chasing and bronze mounting, Agnès has developed a unique savoir-faire by learning alongside goldsmiths, bronziers and also foundrymen. “I worked in several craft companies over the years, in lighting, restoration and heritage sites, museum works, furnishing bronzes, silversmithing, and others," she explains. This varied experience has enabled her to discover many domains of application for her craft, and to broaden her perspective on different materials and to varying scales.

Interview

©Vincent Baillais

©Vivien Lavau

Do you remember when you first had the idea of starting this craft?: When I applied at the Ecole Boulle, I was not at all sure that I wanted to become a craftswoman. My grandfather was a craftsman who worked a lot with wood and electronics, but I never thought of these as a material for me. I chose metal because I did not know anything about it, and I was drawn to it because of its difference.
Which are your specialisations?: Chasing and chiselling can be applied on so many scales, from jewellery to furniture. I usually work on jewels, silversmithing pieces, sculptures and bronze furnishing, which is a large range of objects and covers a vast spectrum of ornamentation types. This variety nurtures my creativity and my curiosity, allowing me to push every project further.
What do you love most about your profession today?: The magic of starting from a flat sheet of copper or brass, slowly turning it into a volume. The sense of community is another aspect. As we are only approximately 150 bronzesmiths practising chasing and chiselling in France, we are united, merging our common interests to promote our craft.
Would you say that your profession is endangered?: Yes, as there are only two training courses left in France, and we are few active artisans. However, there is a real resurgence of interest in chasing and chiselling. We are at a crossroads for the transmission of this know-how, and we have a responsibility to share, talk about it and be role models for the generations to come.

Agnès Sevestre is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2014 and she started teaching in 2021