Boutal - Family Story - Carrelages BOUTAL

The story of ceramics in Salernes – tiles – terracotta - Provence

L'histoire de la céramique à Salernes - Carrelage - Terre Cuite - Provence

Since 1884, the PIERRE BOUTAL family has perpetuated the tradition of being the leaders in ceramics.

This long epic fits in a story that dates back to the dawn of time : fifty five million years ago, a ferruginous clay is deposited in the Valley of Salernes, taking all the necessary rest time, to become the raw material, fine and pure that was discovered seven thousand years ago.

As far back as we know there has always been a tradition of natural terracotta products in Salernes. The purity of the clay, the presence of the water supplied by the river “La Bresque” and the surrounding forests of oak and pine trees have all contributed in the making of these tiles.

The name of SALERNES is inseparable from its main activity, ceramics. Terracotta was initially used as “floor-tiles” (and this as early as the 18^th century): hexagonal tiles that formed an excellent material for floors (read the excellent work by Nicole Ulisse dedicated to “Salernes earth and ceramics”).

In 1957, Pierre Boutal, heir to the skills of his father and grandfather in mechanics and manufacturing traditions and the floor-tiles of his mother along with his solid capacities and technical training, facilitated by the passion and the will to undertake, at barely 20 years old (his father died prematurely) he settled in his village and devoted himself to the ceramics industry.

Interview with Mr Pierre Boutal for the news on the public broadcasting system ORTF (French equivalent to the BBC), September 3, 1970

In 1965 Pierre Boutal reads about the construction project of Port Grimaud in the 'Express' (news magazine). Active and ambitious men like himself: architects and developers would like to build a port with houses on the water, with windows opening onto the sea and reeds and swamps all around. Pierre Boutal is passionate about the project and attends every meeting on Wednesdays about the building project. When the issue for making plans for tiles for the floors and walls was discussed, Pierre Boutal was ranked at the top of the list. His passion and determination convinced the architect, Francois Spoerry, and he fell in love with the handcrafted tiles. All the houses in this seaside city were decorated with floor-tiles and 10x10cm earthenware tiles on the walls.

Port Grimaud is a real showcase: all the beautiful villas on the Côte d’Azur (French Riviera) and well known villas abroad want to use these tiles to decorate. Terracotta from Salernes is used to decorate mansions in California and in many other countries. The beauty and the reputation of these tiles are confirmed.

This young company director, Pierre Boutal does not merely protect and develop his company, he knows that in this industry, and to make the « Tiles from Salernes « famous, it is necessary in the interest of the different manufacturers in Salernes to work together. To do this, he rallies eight other manufacturers/creators of Salernes and forms a “group with the same economic interests”. This group of manufacturers invest in a clay factory with sophisticated equipment to prepare the clay for each of them.

In order to supply the customers with a large variety of materials, he had the idea to combine enamel with the fabulous natural lava stone tops from Volvic, France. The purpose of this is to give the customers a longlasting product glazed in the same way as the tiles. This new decorative material is available to the customers in the same colour range as the wall tiles.

On 30th March 1996, Mr. Pierre Boutal is rewarded with a medal (l’Ordre National du Mérite) for his wonderful success by Mr. Jacques Mazel who is a former prefect, a state counselor and also a childhood friend. The sub-prefect, mayors of Salernes and Draguignan and representatives of the economic life in the Var including the president of the chamber of commerce and industry, were all present at the ceremony.

L'histoire de la céramique à Salernes - Carrelage - Terre Cuite - Provence

CERAMIQUES BOUTAL

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