“There is haute couture, there is high jewellery… and we created haute porcelain.”
I had the pleasure of welcoming Sophie Salager, a bold entrepreneur who took on a rare challenge: acquiring Manufacture de Couleuvre, an eighteenth-century jewel then in serious difficulty, and transforming it into an exceptional haute porcelain house. The epitome of elegance, she elevates everyday life with exacting standards and creativity, while preserving a living heritage.
Throughout the episode, Sophie speaks passionately about art, business and the encounters that have shaped her journey.
From the Palace of Versailles to Christie’s and the acquisition of Manufacture de Couleuvre, one thread runs throughout her journey: uniting business, culture and French craftsmanship to reinvent porcelain.
Sophie is a builder by nature: art is her compass, entrepreneurship her instinct, and she firmly believes that an entrepreneur’s mindset means surrounding oneself with the right people. With Couleuvre, she champions a compelling vision: bringing “haute porcelain” to life at the intersection of luxury, heritage and contemporary creation.
In this episode, Sophie reflects on:
- The moment she discovered her passion for art, long after a childhood that had not set her on that path.
- Her beginnings as an eighteenth-century art specialist, her internship at the Palace of Versailles and her time at Christie’s, where the connection between business and art first clicked.
- What drove her to become an entrepreneur rather than settle for a predetermined career.
- Her various projects and businesses guided by art and culture.
- The extraordinary adventure of taking over the Couleuvre porcelain works.
- The history, challenges and ambitions of this house, which she considers a living heritage.
- Her dictionary of audacity: believe, surround yourself with others and never stop moving forward.
