On the Left Bank of Paris, at 37 rue de Verneuil, you’ll find a charming little shop called Le Cabinet de Porcelaine — it’s a floral paradise like no other, where every delicate bloom is entirely sculpted by hand. The artisan at the reins is Samuel Mazy, who, in this corner of the world, quietly continues the centuries-old craft of the ceramic florist. Later this month, on April 25th, you can also spot his creations at the Museum of the Romantics, in the ninth arrondissement, as part of an exhibit on botanist and floral painter (and Marie Antoinette tutor) Pierre-Joseph Redouté. Here, Mazy talks to us about capturing the “spirit” of a flower and his own garden escapes, both in the country and the city.

I became a floral artist when…
My passion was born when I met Didier Gardillou, a ceramist, who introduced me to this art. It is 20 years now and this passion has not left me; I am still passionate about what I do.

The design process involves…
There is a very specific technical protocol. First of all, the modeling — the initial step for the elaboration of the flower by itself. Then, a first cooking at 980° Celsius, a second at 1200° and the a third and final one at 800° for the colors. It sounds simple, but it takes years to master the techniques. And then there are, of course, small secrets of manufacturing that make all the difference!

My favorite part about what I do…
I love to create a new flower and to see it materialize — switch from an abstract idea to realization by capturing the “spirit” of the flower. It is a magical moment. At a certain point, as in any act of creation, things get out of hand, like the story of a book which is written under the writer’s pen, a perfume that is elaborated or a music score.

And the most challenging part…
The precise moment I open the oven, especially if it is painted flowers. It is the moment of truth. Even if you are able to master the different techniques according to a process and gestures that you know by heart, an unexpected event can always happen — one way or the other, and you may even have a surprising and magnificent result.

My favorite floral creation…
I absolutely love all the flowers. I am passionate about them. I like flowers at every season and at every stage of their flowering, from bud to final bloom.

Favorite type of flower to recreate…
The magnolia flower. It is the last line I created and reinvented through my inspiration, as photophores, candlesticks, branches, appliqués or wall sconces… It is a beautiful flower, charged with symbolism.

My favorite (real-life) flowers or bouquets to have at home…
Again, I like all type of flowers, but if it is for a bouquet, I do not like mixing varieties and different species. What is more beautiful than a bunch of tulips…

And favorite flower to gift…
I very much like to offer lilies of the valley. In France, if you offer lilies of the valley on May 1st, it brings happiness. Since my childhood, I associate the fact of offering flowers to the desire to please and to make somebody happy and if, in addition, it brings happiness… it is a wonderful gift.

Favorite garden in the world…
The garden of Bagatelle in Paris is gorgeous. Like any work of art, it gives an impression of naturalness and simple beauty whereas it is the result of permanent care and hard work. One passes from the English garden to the parterre of the French garden, then to the Italian garden…. The Boboli gardens in Florence also impress me a lot.

My own garden in Limousin…
Is a bit like me — it is a bit wild. There are country flowers growing in it. I intervene as little as possible; I like the gift that nature gives me. It surprises me all the time.