The beginnings
In 1926, after having worked as a
heddler in several tanneries
Marcel Dumas opens his
own manufacturing company for
parchment, on the banks of the river Cance, in
Annonay.
In 1926, after having worked as a
heddler in several tanneries
Marcel Dumas opens his
own manufacturing company for
parchment, on the banks of the river Cance, in
Annonay.
Ten years later, in 1936, Marcel Dumas founded the current company with two friends, with whom he remained partners for several years. They set up shop in an old weaving mill in the La Combe du Prieuré district of Annonay, where the current company is located. Until the 1950s, parchment was mainly produced for orthopedics, percussion and lampshade trim.
In 1954, Marcel handed the company over to his son André. Passionate about music, he exploits his contacts in this field. It exports parchment for percussion around the world and became a supplier to the Garde Republican. This earned him the nickname "Dédé Peaux de Tambour".
In the mid-1950s, the sale of parchment underwent a major the advent of plastics. André Dumas imagines a new use for the tanned skins whose fur has been preserved, giving rise to what is now known as the decorative skin! He canvasses for new customers in the ski resorts.
In 1986, his son Frédéric Dumas joined the company. It will take the two of us fifteen years to make it prosper.
In 1996, when he took over from his father, the production of parchment and skins now account for only 5% of the company's business. Frédéric develops importing and selling at trade fairs professionals.
As a lover of parchment, Frédéric is interested in all types of uses to which they can be put. This brought him into contact with the École Estienne, the École Boulle, medievalist circles, illuminators and calligraphers, scientists and historians at the CNRS, the BNF, curators and restorers... These contacts will gradually enrich the idea that had been germinating in his mind, to open the family workshop to the public, in order to introduce people to parchment.
In 2000, he decided to relaunch parchment production, but he was unable to do so. this time for more refined uses than drumheads. He got closer to a colleague from Levroux (36), Jean-Pierre Bavouzet. After training with him, he bought his know-how and his customers, when he retired in 2004.
In 2002, Frédéric launched his company tour project. Sound ambition is to perpetuate the family business, open a museum bring it to life with a wide variety of workshops, and welcome meetings, seminars and conferences...
Supported since 2007 by his partner and associate, the project saw the light of day. with the opening of the boutique in 2009, then the museum with workshop tour in June 2010.
To safeguard intangible cultural heritage, as part of the UNESCO convention, INMA has registered Tannerie Dumas in the inventory of rare crafts. To date, there are three parchment mills in France and fewer than ten in Europe.
Holders of ancestral know-how, Ets Marcel Dumas et Cie have held the "EPV" label since 2013.
2019 sees the arrival of a female face in the family business. Lucile Dumas brings a new vision of communication. It is developing social networks and boosting sales to private customers thanks to the online store accessible via the website.
Ets DUMAS – Tannery Parcheminery