The Team


François Bouis | Chief Executive

Took the helms of the family foundry, funeral foundry at the time, in 1985.

Developed artistic activities in the 80s, and 3D activities starting in 2014.


The foundry is a strong marker of his affection for art and the sculptors. It also harks back to his childhood when he lived above the foundry and watched the bronze being cast as a young boy.
Remembers the time when the art foundry section was just a workbench inside the funeral foundry..

Pierre Abattu | Director of Foundry

Has been working at the Fonderie Barthélémy since 1986

He loves working with fire, the technology around the foundry and the way it evolves.
Background in foundry work.
Previously worked in foundries in Lyon.


Smashed a window and fortunately barely missed hurting passersby with his first metal fusion experiment, in his parents’ attic. He did this by testing the filling of the metal with a manual sling, which uses centrifugal force to inject the metal. The mold was projected three floors lower. The mold did not survive but the foundry virus never died.

Suniti Bikash | Finishing, patina, mounting, welding

Has been working at the Fonderie Barthélémy since 2005

Where he appreciates being autonomous in his work and the quality of the pieces that go through his hands.
Learned his trade at the Barthélémy Foundry.


Previously worked in a radiator manufacturing company.

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Alexis Chakma | Finishing, patina

Has been working at the Fonderie Barthélémy since 2003

He appreciates the presence of sculptors, their exchanges and the delicate work of the patinas.
Has a training in boilermaking, learned finishing and patina at the Foundry.


Previously worked in a boilermaking company

Deva Chakma | Finishing, patina

Has been working at the Fonderie Barthélémy since 2016

He appreciates cooperating and sharing with artists and staff members.
Learned his trade at the Fonderie Barthélémy.
Previously worked in the restaurant and the building sectors.


As agile to the shot as to the pointed, he devotes himself wholeheartedly to the petanque during his free time.

Grégoire Chakma | Finishing Chisel, finish

Has been working at the Fonderie Barthélémy since 2004.

He appreciates the work atmosphere and the relationship with the artists.
Learned his job at the Barthélémy Foundry.


Previously worked in water tank manufacturing companies.

Aurélien | Patina Chisel, mounting and patina

Has been working at the Fonderie Barthélémy since 2007.

He appreciates the openness and accessibility of the shops and the cooperation between sculptors and « Barthélemians ».
Has a background in industrial foundry and sand casting.


Originally from Lille, he worked in Nice before arriving in Crest.

Hicham El Amrani | Wax making and retouching

Has been working at the Fonderie Barthélémy since 2006

He appreciates the originality of his profession, the Foundry trades, and working with the artists.
Learned his job at the Barthélémy Foundry.


Smiles while working

Patrick Houfek | Finishing, Welding, chiseling

Has been working at the Fonderie Barthélémy since 2012.

He enjoys working on unique pieces and the fact that « pressure is not about performance but about quality ».
Has a training in metal boiler making.


Is an avid fisherman.

Toinon Margalhan | Chiseling, welding, finishing

Has been working at the Fonderie Barthélémy since 2013

She appreciates the wealth of exchanges with the sculptors, working around art. Has a training in metalwork and learned a good share of her trade at the Fonderie Barthélémy.

Previously worked as a potter.


She likes listening to crime novels audio books, which she listens to with her noise blocking headphones.

Chrystelle Ferrier | Manager Administration

Has been working at the Fonderie Barthélémy since 2014.

She appreciates absolutely everything: meeting the sculptors, discovering their work, the work atmosphere, and the constant challenge of managing time schedule.
Has a training in sales in the agro-food business.Previously worked in the food industry and precision engineering companies.


Fully passionate about art, she’s an avid traveler.

Christophe Jule | Wax technician

Has been working at the Fonderie Barthélémy since 1990.

He appreciates watching a sculpture evolve in all of its stages, and the precious moment when the bronze is cast, between extreme concentration and a quasi meditative state !
Trained as a jeweler.
Began his career in the funeral department of the foundry.


Discovered that the Great Beyond and foundry workers speak the same language: one day, a nun visiting the foundry was trying to understand the « negative principle » of reproduction of a piece. Faced with his misunderstanding, he illustrated by explaining that it was all about « thinking the other way around » To which she replied: « Just like up there ! «.

Alexis Parrot | Chiseling

Works at the Barthélémy Foundry since 2016

Where he appreciates the work on unique pieces, the patience and the precision necessary, the satisfaction of the result obtained, to work in the shade without one being able to suspect his intervention.
Has a background in metallurgy and ironwork.


He has a scar on his right finger that reminds him that he is not the strongest in front of his cat.

Axel Peyronnet | Wax retouching

Has been working at the Fonderie Barthélémy since July 2016.

Where he appreciates modeling work and the direct contact with the sculptor.


Is a trained prosthetic dental technician.


Raphael Maurice | Wax technician

Has been working at the Fonderie Barthélémy since 2001

He likes the work atmosphere and getting along with his colleagues.Has previously worked in the molding shop at the Barthélémy Foundry.

Benoît Para | Finishing, patina, Chiseling, patina

Has been working at the Barthélémy Foundry since April 2016.

He appreciates working on the materiala, the need to understand the artist and then transcribe his or her requests.
Trained as an illustrator and art foundry worker.

Previously worked with other foundry workers, at Atelier 960 °, in Carcès (Var).


Has a notebook filled with drawings of monsters of all kinds, inspired by the sculptures and the sculptors he’s been working with.

Geoffrey Tixier | Finishing, Foundry, Big pieces

Has been working at the Barthélémy Foundry since 2016

He loves the creativity that is required, the general atmosphere and working closely with of friendly artists. Previously worked as an independent metalworker.


Was led to the Fonderie Barthélémy by his attraction to arts crafts.

Christel Villemonteix | Wax retouching

Has been working at the Barthélémy Foundry since 2017

She enjoys manual work, working with artists and the sunny setting of the Drôme.
Trained in electronics wiring operation. Has a wiring training in electronics.


Finds out every day how precious her polartec fleece jacket is in a wax workshop maintained at a 19° C.

Hubert Priol | Finishing, Chiseling

Has been working at the Barthélémy Foundry since 2016.

He appreciates working on unique pieces, the necessary patience and precision, being proud of the result, working discreetly, without (to an unknowing eye) leaving his mark.

Has a background in metallurgy and ironwork.



A scar on his right finger reminds him who’s the boss between him and his cat

Guillaume Serre | Finishing, Chiseling shop manager

Has been working at the Barthélémy Foundry since 2004.

He appreciates the constantly renewed challenges, the diversity of work and collaborating with the artists.


Has a training in metalwork and bronze mount.

Driss Zamri | Wax shop manager

Has been working at the Barthélémy Foundry since 1991

He appreciates the diversity of trades and the possibility for artists to be autonomous or accompanied by staff.
Learned his trade at the Barthélémy Foundry.


Is an eternal handyman, weekends and evenings included.