Scants which have been rough-sized at the quarry after extraction are received at the factory in Castelsarrasin, near Toulouse, where they are shaped by CNC and water-jet cutting technology.All stone-working tasks are then completed using a combination of CNC technology and manual work.The surface is refined by filling all microscopic holes, and the stone and filler are bonded together during the first kiln firing cycle.
This initial firing creates enormous stress on the stone, enabling any failed stone to be identified and discarded.Those pieces that prove their strength and stability are then rigorously sanded and polished as smooth as glass.A glaze undercoat is then applied to the entire surface.This is left to dry naturally after which the second coating of coloured enamel is applied over the undercoat by hand.
The pieces then are returned to the computer-controlled kilns for a second and longer firing cycle at temperatures over 1000˚C.At these high temperatures, the glaze is fused to the stone.As the stone cools down, the different contracting rates cause the signature crazing to the surface.The pieces are finally grouped together for quality control inspection before being packed into rigid wooden crates with card and foam separators.