The city of Thiers in Auvergne has been the largest French center for cutlery production for over six centuries. Known as the "European Capital of Cutlery," it has hosted the Coutellia trade fair dedicated to art and traditional knives for over twenty-five years. For the first time in 2016, a new event served as a prelude to this fair: the World Cutlery Meetings or Thiers Meetings.
Cutlery basin for over six centuries and home to the Cutlery Museum, the town of Thiers in Auvergne aims to establish its status as the French capital of cutlery on the international stage.
In Thiers, knives have been manufactured since the 14th century. As early as the 16th century, the Auvergne city exported its blades to the rest of Europe, Spain, the Netherlands, and Lombardy.
Today, 70% of the knives made in France come from the Thiers basin. There are about a hundred family businesses there, and 20% of their production is exported to the United States and the rest of Europe.
With this industrial tradition, the town has been hosting the Coutellia exhibition dedicated to art and traditional knives for over twenty-five years.
For the first time in 2016, a new event was organized as a prelude to this exhibition: the World Cutlery Meetings or Thiers Meetings.
Thiers Meetings will take place on May 20th and 21st, 2023, at the initiative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Puy-de-Dôme and the Thiers City Hall.
This event is organized in partnership with the French Federation of Cutlery, the Brotherhood of the Le Thiers® Knife, and Esprit de Thiers.
The world capitals of cutlery will meet in Thiers for unprecedented encounters focused on cultural and economic exchanges.
For this first edition, many countries have responded: Austria, Germany, Bulgaria, Spain, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, the Czech Republic, Russia, and Turkey.
The program will include conferences dedicated to cutlery, a presentation of the capitals, factory and museum visits, and a gala evening.
The objective of these World Cutlery Meetings is to promote the global heritage of cutlery and of course, to (re)establish Thiers as one of the great capitals of international cutlery.
As part of Thiers Meetings, a business convention on cutlery subcontracting, exclusively dedicated to professionals in the sector, will be held for suppliers and contractors in the industry on Friday, May 13th, from 9am to 6pm.
It will allow suppliers to develop their business network, get in touch with contractors and major groups, and meet a wide range of cutting tool manufacturers.
As for contractors, manufacturers, and users in the sector, they will be able to contribute to the international reputation of the industry, its competitiveness, regional economic development, and local employment.
Note: these World Cutlery Meetings take place as a preface to Coutellia (an international exhibition of art and traditional knives) which delegations can visit. On this occasion, cutlers and blacksmiths will create a sculpture in the shape of a globe, featuring the 28 historical cutlery capitals of the world. This work will then be exhibited in Thiers on the Place de la mairie.
Full price: from 10 to 15 euros.
Free for children under 15 years old.
Day ticket: 10 euros
Weekend ticket: 15 euros.
Opening hours:
From May 20th to May 21st, 2023
Saturday from 09:00am to 06:00pm
Sunday from 10:00am to 06:00pm.
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