The Cooperage
Entering the Florence & Nardin cooper's workshop is like taking a trip back in time: the carefully arranged tools seem to come from another century. Cooperage is a craft of detail: each of the old barrels in the Florence & Nardin cellar, some of which are almost 100 years old, requires the utmost attention. Like Champagne, wood is a living material: the cooper must scrutinise each stave to carefully repair those that threaten to break. When the barrels are not in use, they have to be filled, dried and tarnished. Learning to maintain this heritage in perfect condition requires a rigorous apprenticeship: this is why cooperage is also a trade that is passed on. A precious know-how that Florence & Nardin is committed to perpetuating.