Stone cutters in the middle of Paris
Thursday, September 28, 2006 Posted by Eric
Not very far from yesterday's photo there is a famous tower, called the Tour Saint Jacques . This tower was originally a bell tower that belonged to a church built between 1509 and 1522 then destroyed after the French revolution. The Tour Saint Jacques is currently being renovated and, to do so, they use several stone cutters, exactly like in the ancient times. This guy, for instance, was currently cutting this block of stone to make it look like this. Amazing.
September 28, 2006 12:42:00 AM GMT+02:00
Nahal, where are you? Guess I beat you to it today, lol!
I love pictures of men (and women) working, just like this one! Thanks Eric! What that guy is doing takes incredible skill, doesn't it?
I can't say it enough ... I'm just so impressed with all the renovations having taken place in Paris over the last 10-15 years... Incredible.
September 28, 2006 1:44:00 AM GMT+02:00
I have great respect for stone carvers, my grandfather was one - a pretty good tumbstone maker too.
September 28, 2006 4:29:00 AM GMT+02:00
Oh my goodness, what a beautiful tower. I totally respect this guy, stone carving takes skills that I'll never possess. With guys (and gals!) like him on the job the renovation is gonna be a huge success!
September 28, 2006 6:13:00 AM GMT+02:00
The Tour Saint Jacques is totally covered with a canvas-cover since long, and will still be for a long time.
The stone cutter on Eric's pic has a secure job for at least the 5 years to come!
As Eric said, the church was destroyed during the revolution, except the tower.
There is a reason why they kept the tower:
The tower was used at that time by the "Révolutionnaires" to produce lead shot for their guns: hot lead was let down from the top of the tower, and felt into a grille/bars put on the ground, above cold water.
That way, the lead was automatically dispatched into many small pieces used a lead shot.
September 28, 2006 6:16:00 AM GMT+02:00
What an amazing job!
I can only imagine the skills and patience you must have to carve a stone like that one!
I've always thought how frustrating it must be if, when carving something, you cut too much and ruin the stone... You'd have to start over!
September 28, 2006 6:50:00 AM GMT+02:00
Great capture Eric and not something you see every day. We always see these renovations in progress, but never the people actually doing the work.
Haxo, as always you bring us even more information to digest and learn. Thanks.
Did you know that in many societies/civilizations, the stone cutters used to mark their stones with a number or symbol so that at the end of the day they could be paid for the number of stones they cut?
September 28, 2006 6:54:00 AM GMT+02:00
P.S. For Susan, compliments of Percy's investigative talents:
(insert open bracket)a href="INSERT THE LINK YOU WANT HERE">insert the word(s) you want to underline as a link here(insert open bracket)/a(insert closed bracket)
brackets = < or >
September 28, 2006 7:48:00 AM GMT+02:00
Aw, he looks like Gilligan from 'Gilligan's Island".
September 28, 2006 8:08:00 AM GMT+02:00
Belle photo.
Et la tour st jacques en ce moment fait penser a une oeuvre de Christo. Photo prise un matin
September 28, 2006 8:18:00 AM GMT+02:00
Hey Sadia,
He does look like Gilligan. One could imagine that he is carving a figurehead for the Minnow. Hmm, a figurehead of stone. Quite useful if they wanted to make of the little boat an artificial reef.
September 28, 2006 8:22:00 AM GMT+02:00
It is amazing that this is still the only way to re-create the old buildings. Those carvers are impressive.
September 28, 2006 9:19:00 AM GMT+02:00
Seems like anything and everything goes on in Paris every day.
September 28, 2006 9:32:00 AM GMT+02:00
Is this the tower with the lovely bell ringing?
September 28, 2006 9:40:00 AM GMT+02:00
Was this in the open? This picture really highlights a difference between London and Paris. In London, the HEalth & Safety inspectors would be down on this like a ton of ... stone.
Michael, you've reminded me, I have a brilliant stonemason story. Need to go take a picture, so watch out for Monday's post on LDP.
September 28, 2006 9:58:00 AM GMT+02:00
hm...
The guy must be careful and patient...
:)
September 28, 2006 10:48:00 AM GMT+02:00
> ladyjicky :"Is this the tower with the lovely bell ringing?"
I might make a mistake but coult it be that you think to the belfry of St Germain l'Auxerrois, just in front of le Louvre ?
Thank you Haxo for the very interesting information. Another one about the church : its full name was St Jacques de la Boucherie, for there gathered pilgrims to St Jacques de Compostelle (Spain), and it was located in the area of the butchers' market (we're very close to Les Halles).
September 28, 2006 11:48:00 AM GMT+02:00
I love the photos on this site. Eric does a terrific job. Now I have another place to visit next Spring.
September 28, 2006 4:06:00 PM GMT+02:00
Wonderful to see skilled professional at work! The before/after effect is staggering.
Cheers from Sydney,
Nathalie
September 28, 2006 7:52:00 PM GMT+02:00
A true artisan - very humbling. Nice shot Eric.
September 28, 2006 8:38:00 PM GMT+02:00
That really looks rock hard!
September 28, 2006 10:29:00 PM GMT+02:00
I could send this photo to my relatives and they would think it is a photo of me. The only giveaway is the dark hair...mine is now salt and pepper...mostly salt. LOL
September 28, 2006 11:19:00 PM GMT+02:00
Another amazing photo with an unusual subject. Those red, white and blue colors really give it punch. Thanks,Eric!
September 28, 2006 11:27:00 PM GMT+02:00
Olivier: great picture, thanks!
September 29, 2006 12:15:00 AM GMT+02:00
I see everybody was impressed. I was too when I saw that. I forgot to tell you how long it will take : 3 years from now.
September 29, 2006 3:24:00 AM GMT+02:00
haha yes Tomate, you did beat me....by a lot....
September 29, 2006 3:24:00 AM GMT+02:00
haha yes Tomate, you did beat me....by a lot....
September 29, 2006 11:52:00 AM GMT+02:00
Eric, the lighting in this shot is wonderful, as are the colors. A great photo in every respect, and especially interesting to see this artist in action.
-Kim
September 29, 2006 8:50:00 PM GMT+02:00
ParisBreakfasts said...
This is a wonderful image Eric. I love it!
June 22, 2008 10:01:00 AM GMT+02:00
The stone masons' marks and symbols are visible in most medieval structures throughout Europe. I took photos of a few last year whilst walking el camino de Santiago.
You can view some of them here:
http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/ll245/Silvianilsen/masonsigns/
October 13, 2009 12:10:00 PM GMT+02:00
酒店經紀人,
菲梵酒店經紀,
酒店經紀,
禮服酒店上班,
酒店小姐兼職,
便服酒店經紀,
酒店打工經紀,
制服酒店工作,
專業酒店經紀,
合法酒店經紀,
酒店暑假打工,
酒店寒假打工,
酒店經紀人,
菲梵酒店經紀,
酒店經紀,
禮服酒店上班,
酒店經紀人,
菲梵酒店經紀,
酒店經紀,
禮服酒店上班,
酒店小姐兼職,
便服酒店工作,
酒店打工經紀,
制服酒店經紀,
專業酒店經紀,
合法酒店經紀,
酒店暑假打工,
酒店寒假打工,
酒店經紀人,
菲梵酒店經紀,
酒店經紀,
禮服酒店上班,
酒店小姐兼職,
便服酒店工作,
酒店打工經紀,
制服酒店經紀,
酒店經紀,
菲
梵,