OUR JOBS IN THE WORKSHOP

With Gien, you will join the warm world of earthenware and colleagues who have mastered techniques dating back over two centuries. Find out more about our different manufacturing professions below.

Virginie, painter

Working in the decoration workshop, the painter manually decorates prestigious pieces. He/she selects and prepares the colours necessary for the decoration, then takes up the biscuit piece on which the outline of the design has been printed with silk paper by the hand printing workshop. The painter then colours the design with a brush, following the model. He/she checks the compliance of the piece, makes the necessary alterations and signs it. Each painter adds his/her own unique touch.

“To have a brush in my hands, it brings me joy.”

Irmgard, spinner

As part of the Decoration workshop, the spinner is responsible for finishing the parts with a brush. He/she prepares the colours and brushes, then positions the piece on a spinner. He/she then underlines the scallops of the pieces with a continuous and precise line of paint, while turning the piece. Then, depending on pattern requirements, he/she adds small decorative details to buttons, handles and other decorative elements freehand. He/she checks the compliance of his/her creations before placing them on trolleys to send them for firing.

"Each day is different, you never do the same thing.”

The Gien earthenware factory offers a wide variety of trades. Some require specialised expertise, due to the technical nature of ceramics. Others require motivation and curiosity in order to be trained on site by a tutor.

Sylvie, glazing

Working in the glazing workshop, the glazer performs manual glazing of a wide range of earthenware pieces, in line with production programmes. His/her job consists of adjusting the glaze to the right density and carrying out the glazing by dipping or spraying the pieces. Then he/she finishes the pieces and places them on the firing supports.

“I have a large part of my family who have worked and still works here.”

Blandine, manufacturing agent in the shaping workshop

As part of the shaping workshop, the manufacturing agent is responsible for checking the visual aspect of the parts, detecting defaults and ensuring the finishing touches. He/she works on a wide range of shapes. When the pieces arrive from the traditional casting process, he/she erases the seams left by the mould with a wet sponge, then refines the thicknesses and removes any defects so that the piece is perfect for the kiln and acquires its final shape. For some pieces that first go through a dryer, he/she proceeds by deburring the pieces with a scraper, then finishing them with an iron filings pad to remove roughness.

“To start with a piece that is full of flaws and make it beautiful, that's what I enjoy the most.”

Focus on... tutoring

Come and learn a trade and participate in the perpetuation of earthenware know-how thanks to our tutoring system. Your manual skills will be tested at the time of recruitment, then you will be paired with a craftsman who will teach you his gestures and technical knowledge. The tutor will follow you throughout your development.

Léa, modeler

The Modelling department is the workshop where we produce the plaster moulds used to shape our earthenware pieces. The modeller is responsible for the production of these moulds: preparation of the cores, pouring of the plaster, demoulding of the moulds, finishing and placing in the dryer. He/she checks the consistency of the moulds, maintains the material useful for production and carries out routine maintenance of the equipment. When new shapes are introduced, he/she works from plans transmitted by the design department to develop the shape and the mother mould that will be used to manufacture it in series.

“What I like is to have projects that I see through to the end, I'm working on a piece that will end up in the shop.”

Arnaud, mould caster

Working in the shaping workshop, the mould caster is responsible for the manual manufacture of earthenware pieces of different shapes, using a traditional casting technique. He/she places the plaster moulds on casting benches and pours a liquid ceramic slip into them using a hose. He/she meticulously follows the drying times specific to each piece and carefully demolds it. He/she checks the piece and places it on trolleys for the finishing agents. He/she then cleans the moulds and the casting benches to prepare for the next casting. He/she is responsible for monitoring the condition of the moulds and informing the modeller when a mould is at the end of its life span and needs to be replaced by a fresh one.

“What I love about my job is making certain parts that only I know how to make.”

Nathanaël, machine operator

The machine operator's mission is to shape parts using ceramic paste and various moulds, on all the automatic production equipment present in the Shaping workshop (Pneumaroll, cup and bowl machine, pressure casting, etc.). He/she must ensure the quality of the tools and materials used (moulds, paste) and of his/her production. He/she must also carry out first-level preventive/curative maintenance on the equipment.

"I like it because I change machines a lot, I alternate between three machines”