Matthieu Cheminée
At 19 Matthieu Cheminée moved from Paris to New Mexico, where for seven years he learned jewellery techniques. He immediately took to stamping, a technique he has been using in his work ever since. Then he moved to Mali, West-Africa and worked for a few years with Fulani, Touareg and Bambara jewellers.
In 1999 Matthieu settled in Montreal, Canada and continued his studies by going to a jewelry school and learning a more classical part of the trade. Over the years, he has been returning to Africa regularly to work and research techniques.
He has been teaching at the École de joaillerie de Montreal and at the École des Métiers du Sud Ouest in Montréal, Québec, Canada. He also teaches workshops in Canada, the United States and abroad.
Matthieu is a Saul Bell award winner; has pieces in collections at Musée des Maitres et Artisans du Québec, Montréal, Canada and Musée des Civilsations de Québec, Québec, Canada; is the author of “Legacy, Jewelry Techniques of West Africa,” “The Art of Stamping” and “Inadan, the Mastery of Tuareg Artisans.”
In 2021 he opened his own school/studio in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He is also co- founder of the Toolbox Initiative, along with Tim McCreight. Toolbox Initiative is a non-profit organization that helps jewellers in West Africa through the gifts of donated tools.
Program
Matthieu Cheminée shares demonstrations on filigree by Guinea jeweler Ibrahima Condé, the making of a gold-plated biconical pendant by Modou Fall Tall from Senegal, casting with Tuareg jeweler Ghabda Oummama […]