Musée de la Nacre et de la Tabletterie

Over het museum

The town of Méru in the Oise is known for its tabletterie, the art of making small objects from bone, wood, ivory or mother-of-pearl. A first exhibition on the subject, “Au temps des boutonniers” (In the Time of the Button-Makers), was organised in 1978 by a local association. Several associations in the Méru area then came together to create a permanent place dedicated to this heritage.

The museum is housed in the former steam factory built in 1859 by Louis Fessart, later taken over by the Dégremont family. After industrial activity ceased, the buildings were listed as Monuments historiques in 1994, and the Sablons district became the owner in 1995. The main building opened to the public on May 22, 1999, the west wing ten years later, and the former factory shop was renovated in 2016.

The museum has held the “Musée de France” label since 2008. Its industrial collection includes button-making machines, technical equipment and raw materials, kept in working order. Alongside it, objects made by tabletiers illustrate fashion (fans, buttons, adornments), decorative arts and natural history with shells. In 2025 the museum received the Prix Liliane Bettencourt pour l’Intelligence de la Main, in the Parcours category.

Hoogtepunten

• Reconstructed workshops with a century-old steam engine in operation
• Demonstration of making a mother-of-pearl button and an ebony and bone domino
• Collection of fans, displayed on a rotating basis
• Buttons, jewellery, boxes, games and necessaires made from natural materials
• 19th-century factory listed as a Monument historique

Vaste collectie

• Collections de la tabletterie et ateliers reconstitués – The route presents steam engines, reconstructed workshops and objects made of mother-of-pearl, bone, ebony and ivory: fans, buttons, jewellery, games and necessaires.

Opgericht

1999

Directie

Florentin Gobier

Bezoekers per jaar

ca. 21.815

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Gratis toegang: Every Friday afternoon during the summer holidays

The ticket includes a guided tour of about one hour and access to the collections and the temporary exhibition. Discounts on proof. Offers: “one adult ticket bought, one ticket free” with the Pass Proscitec (adult), and one child ticket free with an adult ticket. Free admission notably with the ICOM card and the Pass’ Pro Hauts-de-France Tourisme. Payment methods: cash, cheque, bank card, Chèques Vacances and administrative order (mandat administratif).

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The collection and exhibition areas are fully accessible; a lift serves the first level. Wheelchair access is via rue Roger Salengro or the garden side. Only assistance dogs are allowed in the museum.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations

The route is designed for younger visitors too, with playful discovery furniture and a digital table. During school holidays, holiday workshops (storytelling tours, treasure hunts, workshop visits) are offered by registration, and in summer the “Jeu(x)dis d’été” workshops from age 6. A virtual reality escape game is open from age 10.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

About 50 minutes from Paris via the A15, N184 and A16 (Méru exit), 30 minutes from Beauvais via the D927, and 1 hour from Amiens via the A16.

Service & horeca

• Museumwinkel

Museum shop. A café area is available for groups (breakfast or afternoon snack by reservation).

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

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