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2/ FROM THE 20TH CENTURY TO TODAY The 20th century saw profound changes come about. Robots and automatic assembly chains gradually took over from the hand-made method and helped build the success of about sixty industrial companies. The manufacturing techniques and materials underwent changes. The first pieces of stainless steel cutlery were produced in about 1930. The use of this new material had a strong influence on the shapes of knives: solid and sleek designs came into being, like the first specialist designers. The advent of plastic handles immediately after the Second World War brought about a revolution, to the detriment of horn, mother-of-pearl, ivory, silver and wood. The knife now became a true general consumer object. Today the Thiers area produces 20,000 different models of knives, employs 2,750 people and exports mainly to Europe (63 %) and to the USA (16 %). So the little town of Thiers really deserves its title of Capital of French Cutlery. |
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The SABATIER knife - History of a shape |
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SABATIER - The story of a brand |
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The area around Thiers |
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Traditional skills |
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Cultural universe of the knife |
AROUND THIERS
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