Meeting with Raymond Kneip, ornamentalist
The Argonne, a breeding ground for know-how
Starting with Mr. Raymond Kneip, a man with the air of a sailor-captain, facetious and adept at making guesses about the objects around him. What’s this for? What’s this for? In the kitchen, in the field, in the bedroom? In church or at the blacksmith’s? Here, a wedding gift from 1750. Here, something so rare that there are probably only five left in France. Bone mould. Choux tongs. Weaving loom. Compasses you can’t count. It’s sure to set you up.
On this day, Raymond is wearing a blue T-shirt to match the sparkle in his eyes, the project of a lifetime. In the small village of Massiges, twenty minutes from Sainte-Ménehould, he has built the two buildings of his workshop-museum, known as “de la Main de Massiges”, but in no way related to the nearby trenches commemorating the First World War. His hand is that of the tool. Of work. Of accomplishment. A hand outstretched, a hand lent, in favor of knowledge.
Ornamentalists can be counted on the fingers of one hand
His studio-museum is a timeless place, built in 1998 from recycled materials. Bricks. Chalk. Tiles. Beams. And a lot of hard work. Inside, the craftsman, who could have been born in the 18th century, will precede you to show you all the details.
“In life, we all have a clear path. You just have to follow it”.
Dotted with ponds and vast forests, the Argonne offers unspoilt flora and fauna in a bountiful natural setting ideal for green getaways!
First a plumber by trade, then a roofer, then a goldsmith, then a “metal ornamentalist in roofing” (which earned him a Meilleur Ouvrier de France diploma), Raymond’s rigor is ingrained in his body. He loves symbols, hidden all over his property. His collections of all kinds and his regular arrangements evoke the passing of time, just as the weathervanes indicate the direction of the wind and the rooster on his bell tower the start of a new day.
A love of the aesthetics of old tools
This Meilleur Ouvrier de France award-winning craftsman makes roof ornaments, weathervanes and steeple cocks…. He works metals such as copper, lead, zinc and brass.
He invites you to visit his workshop-museum, built according to the traditions of ancient construction, and comments on the showcases displaying collections of antique tools, folk art objects (some dating from the 15th century), sculptures…
More discovery ideas
While the Argonne is often discovered from a natural perspective, it also harbors many heritage treasures.
Ecomusée Atelier de la main de Massiges
Massiges
A visit to the future workshop, built in the traditional way.
Centre historique Valmy 1792
Valmy
Relive the finest hours of the French Revolution at the heart of the site of the battle of Valmy….
La faïencerie de Passavant en Argonne
Passavant-En-Argonne
An introductory course to earthenware. Visitors will see a turning demonstration. A visit to the …
Château de Braux Sainte Cohière
Braux-Sainte-Cohiere
Once a fortified military command post in the 16th and 17th centuries and a legendary site in the…
Visite historique de la Ville de Sainte-Ménehould , une rue , une histoire
Sainte-Menehould
Discover the town’s 18th-century architecture and its history closely linked to the history of Fr…