My name is Jean-Pierre Silve, born in Embrun between my mother's village of Puy-Sanières and my father's village of Crévoux. I moved back to the family home in Crévoux in 1991 with my wife Corinne. At the time, I worked as a ski patrolman in the ski resorts in winter, and as a lumberjack and woodcutter on our territory in summer.
In 1994, we created the rural museum under the vaults of the house's old stable. It was at this point that I began turning wood on my own. Then, in 2001, I became an Artisan d'Art - Tourneur sur Bois. With around thirty turners from all over France, we created the G.P.To, an association with which we have organized several prestigious trade shows, such as "Design et Bois Tourné", 5 editions of which took place in Embrun from 2005 to 2014.
In the spring of 2017, I was invited by Monsieur Christian Laloye, inventor of magic spinning tops, to help manufacture and market his patents, which have won several awards at the Lépine competitions. A real turning point in my career as a craftsman. The tops are made from sycamore maple platters purchased from La Roche des Arnaud (05). The tops have to be cut into chevrons, then sawn into tiles. Waiting time for tiles to stabilize: 3 weeks minimum.
Six different stages are required to produce the "Zen router", with a maximum production time of 25 to 30 minutes.
Good sharpening, known as "nail sharpening", avoids the need for sanding. Finishing is done with beeswax.
Our museum-workshop-shop "Le Temps is open all year round by appointment. Discover our know-how and the never-before-seen performance of our incredible spinning tops.
