The mural decorates the exterior walls of the Madeleine Lodge, named after the late Madeleine Hervy and now owned by the local municipality. This exhibition space, situated on Place des Vanniers (Basket Makers' Square), has become a perfect example of how the community is working to revitalize and promote its historical heritage connected to Brière basket-making.
The artwork was unveiled during the 22nd Basket-Making Festival and prominently features the portrait of Pierre Lelièvre (1874-1957), who was the last professional basket maker in the village before the craft was taken up by numerous amateur but passionate basket makers from Mayun.
Pierre Lelièvre was not only a master craftsman but also a recognized storyteller who left an indelible mark on the village's cultural heritage. The skilled artisan could produce up to three baskets during a 16-hour working day. As a deeply religious man, he had the unique habit of waiting for the second stroke of midnight on Sunday evening before beginning his work. His reputation as a renowned storyteller led to him being recorded in 1949 by Ariane de Félice for the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions in Paris, preserving his voice and stories for future generations.
The mural was created by Jordan Karl Diouada from the Saint-Nazaire-based association Pocama. The artist and the community made a deliberate choice to execute the artwork in black and white. "We thought that black and white better corresponds to an ancient image of Mayun," explained the creators. "And we show that the Mayun basket is not confined to the Brière region. It travels a lot."
The mural illustrates this traveling aspect of the local craft by depicting a Breton woman carrying a basket filled with shellfish, specifically cockles, demonstrating how these handcrafted containers were used beyond their place of origin. These sturdy baskets, known locally as "bourriches" and recognized for their exceptional durability, were once exported far beyond the local region. Historical records show they were shipped to major cities including Nantes and Paris, as well as to Saint-Malo and even as far as Germany.
Nadine Lemeignen, the deputy for culture in La-Chapelle-des-Marais, emphasized the importance of this cultural preservation effort. The black and white aesthetic chosen for the mural serves to evoke the historical period when basket-making was a thriving professional activity in the village, while also highlighting how the craft connected this small Brière community to distant markets and cultures.
The Madeleine Lodge will continue to play a central role in preserving and promoting the basket-making heritage of the region. Nicolas Brault-Halgand, deputy for events, indicated that the community plans to continue enhancing the building gradually, suggesting that this mural is just the beginning of a larger effort to transform the space into a more comprehensive celebration of local craft traditions.
The village of Mayun's commitment to promoting its past tied to Brière basket-making represents a broader trend of rural communities working to preserve and celebrate their traditional crafts and cultural heritage. The transformation of the former property into a municipal exhibition space demonstrates how communities can successfully repurpose historical buildings to serve as cultural anchors that connect past traditions with present-day appreciation and understanding.
This artistic installation not only beautifies the village but also serves an educational purpose, introducing visitors and residents alike to the remarkable story of Pierre Lelièvre and the broader tradition of basket-making that once defined economic life in this part of the Brière wetlands. The mural stands as a testament to the enduring value of traditional crafts and the importance of preserving cultural memory through artistic expression.
