Let’s meet the last remaining mother-of-pearl artisans in France—craftspeople who, with almost magical skill, transform seashells harvested from our shores into shimmering works of art. Once at the heart of a booming industry, the town of Méru, formerly known as the world capital of mother-of-pearl, still holds traces of this rich legacy.
While most shells today are imported from Polynesia, Australia, and New Zealand, you don’t need to travel across the globe to find this iridescent treasure. A local source of mother-of-pearl exists off the coast of Brittany, found in a small yet precious shellfish: the abalone (ormeau in French).
These artisans are keeping alive a traditional know-how, giving new life to a craft that once shaped entire communities—right here in France.
source: TF1 INFO
