By Johanna the 05/10/2018

Meeting with Jean-François Agostini, artisan knife-maker

Jean-François Agostini forges Corsican knives in the village of Costa-en-Balagne. Here we find out what motivates his passion for handmade cutlery.

What sparked your passion for knives? How does Corsica inspire you?

My passion was passed on by my grandfather, who made his own knives – particularly ‘Aschese’ models. He passed on many other passions too: wood, leather, iron and manual trades in general, which led me to create my first pieces.

How do you strike the right balance between ancestral tradition and modernism? What tools and materials do you use?

Corsica is rich in history and artisan cutlery, with numerous models in several forms according to their regions and use. The challenge for a craftsman is to combine tradition with modernism. The references are obviously the traditional models that each craftsman must recreate with modern equipment and techniques, respecting a set of specifications established by the Union of Corsican Cutlers for traditional knives. The materials used are found in Corsica: rams’ and goats’ horns, and endemic woods such as boxwood, juniper, olive, jujube and that of some fruit trees.

What type of clientele do you cater for? Can they visit your workshop?

My clientele is made up of both amateurs and enthusiasts of crafts and Corsican traditions. The workshop can be visited by appointment.

You belong to the Union of Corsican Cutlers. What is the role of the union?

Its role is to link together all the island’s knife-makers. A Corsican knife charter was created and a label set up on various levels:

Level 1: Good to very good work
Level 2: Qualified work of excellence
CT: ‘Cultela tradizionale’, certifying a traditional knife

A commission meets every year to award this label to the knife-makers who request it. This commission is made up of specialists in Corsican cutlery (from the mainland and Switzerland, no union member takes part in this commission) of the heritage and representatives of local institutions. They examine the quality of production according to strict specifications and assign the appropriate label level. The principle is to allow consumers to easily recognise the work of a Corsican craftsman, protecting them from fake items often falsely sold as local.