We'll take you on a tour Mauviel 1830

Plunge into the heart of French artisanal excellence with an exclusive visit to Manufacture Mauviel In Situ 1830. This iconic company once equipped the kitchens of the Titanic and today supplies the kitchens of the Elysée Palace. We invite you to follow us and discover the secrets of its art, in an immersive journey where tradition and savoir-faire meet.

A tradition handed down from generation to generation

The Mauviel factory was founded in 1830 by Ernest Mauviel in Villedieu-les-Poêles, where copper working had been going on since the Middle Ages. In the early days, under the vision of its founder, the company specialized in the manufacture of copper cookware. Ernest Mauviel was a true pioneer in his field, his handcrafted creations becoming benchmarks in the industry.

The company’s 80 craftsmen create exceptional cookware. The company perpetuates a family heritage, handed down from generation to generation and often learned on the job.

In the heart of The workshop

On arrival at the factory, we are greeted by Clément, who will guide us through the process of making a pan. He accompanies us to the various workstations of the craftsmen and explains their movements.

The very first stage in the manufacturing process is stamping, i.e. shaping. The raw material takes the form of copper, aluminum or stainless steel plates, which are then cut into circles. One of these circles is transformed into a top-of-the-range saucepan. The coppersmith places the circle, also known as a “blank”, on the stamping machine. This machine is capable of exerting a pressure of up to 200 tons! It’s a machine that’s operated by hand, requiring years of know-how, as there’s no automation involved.

That’s it, our pan has taken its shape! All that remains is to trim and smooth it to remove the excess material and make it uniform.

We now move on to the workshop dedicated to a spectacular technique: tin plating. This stage involves applying two layers of tin heated to 350°C to the inside of the part, followed by rapid cooling in water and polishing. Every gesture must be precise, as the slightest error can compromise the piece.

The final stage is hammering: Clément takes us into a soundproof room and hands out ear protection to all of us. The tone is set: it’s going to be noisy! The hammering is done by eye by Patrick, THE hammering specialist at Mauviel. This traditional gesture strengthens the metal and gives it that unique and recognizable aesthetic appearance.

During our visit, we sensed in all the craftsmen a genuine passion for their know-how, which has become so rare, and a real willingness to share their knowledge. When you realize that each saucepan or jam pan passes through twenty or so pairs of hands before arriving in our kitchens, you realize that each of these objects is a true work of goldsmith.

We end our visit with a tour of the boutique. Designed by teams of designers and architects, it alone is worth the detour. Metal, in all its culinary forms, shimmers and sparkles. It makes you want to immediately adopt one of these stainless steel or copper jewels to recreate the ambiance of a real chef’s kitchen at home!