The tortoise shell

Its history

Turtle shell was already a popular material in the past. Indeed, in the 8th century, this material was used by the Chinese, Japanese and certain Polynesian peoples to create jewellery, canes and other symbolic objects.

It was in the 16th century that tortoiseshell began to be introduced on the European market thanks to the great Portuguese navigators. But it was not until the 17th century that the raw material could be reinvented, mastered and perfected by the craftsmen of the time. Indeed, this new material required an entirely new know-how.

Between the 18th and 20th centuries, the appropriation of this new material allowed tortoiseshell enthusiasts to own combs, cigar smokers or glasses.

The tortoise shell

Tortoiseshell is a noble and rare material that offers remarkable shades. The real tortoiseshell provides a multitude of shades that goes fromblond tortoiseshell to black, passing through a pink or cherry shade. Light tortoiseshell offers an inimitable transparency while a darker shade brings a certain cachet.

Its rarity makes its use strictly regulated. Scale dealers - of their real name - can only use existing stocks of scale.

The maintenance of a tortoiseshell object is crucial. Over time, a crust can form on the material and clog the pores.

To do this, the crust must be sanded off and the scale must be deeply nourished in an oil bath. It is then necessary to repolish and to proceed to a glazing.

We advise you to bring your object to our workshop. We will do everything necessary to give your object a nice shine.

The discovery in the 19th century of the self-grafting of tortoiseshell made it possible to weld, sculpt and shape this material. Craftsmen were able to create real masterpieces from this material. The heavy oak furniture gradually gave way to light and refined desks, tables and consoles in tortoiseshell.

This craze for tortoiseshell ended very quickly during the 2nd World War.
If at the time, there were a lot of tortoiseshell craftsmen, today, they are more and more rare. There are now only 43 in the world, including 3 in Europe.

Ludovic works closely with one of them.

The tortoiseshell glasses 

The lightness of tortoiseshell was quickly noticed and appreciated by eyewear craftsmen. But in addition to its lightness, craftsmen started to make tortoiseshell frames because they do not slip, they take the body temperature and do not cause allergies.
Tortoiseshell has become the most appreciated and precious material mainly in the high eyewear industry.

It is a natural material that offers an incomparable shine. Sophisticated but sensual, a pair of tortoiseshell glasses will be appreciated and coveted by the most informed.

The price of a pair of custom-made tortoiseshell glasses depends mainly on the number of hours needed to make them, the amount of material, the complexity of the design and also the colour of the tortoiseshell chosen.

Do not hesitate to ask us for a quote.