Anthony Tschantz

La Forge du Camp

Bellfounder

©Yann Laubscher

Upholding the clang of bells across Switzerland

Anthony considers his craft to carry a cultural duty
He took over the workshop set up by his father
He makes bells to serve as decorative objects, and as functional accessories

When his father, Pierre, started making Swiss bells, Anthony Tschantz was drawn to the artistic side of bellfounding, and knew this was the path he wished to follow. Pierre took up bell-making after experiencing back problems, which meant he could no longer carry heavy loads. Already interested in bells, he began to perfect his craft. “It was when my father showed me his creations that I became interested,” says Anthony. “At the time, I had just completed a 10-day work placement with a pâtissier, filling cheese tarts every morning. I realised I did not want to be a pastry chef anymore,” he adds. Anthony has always loved working with his hands, being creative, being at the furnace, and the colour of hot steel. “To me, making bells means engraving my name in a cultural heritage that will be passed down from generation to generation,” he says. He took over his father’s business in 2017.

Interview

©Yann Laubscher

What is your relationship with your customers about?: They bring their history, their family crests, their mountains, their chalets. It is my responsibility to draw and engrave this family heritage—by hand and without a machine—to create an indelible memory that will be passed down through generations.
How important is Switzerland in what you do?: The connection is absolute. Everything binds us together—cows, landscapes, farmers, businesses. Through my work, I participate in creating the identity of Switzerland. The whole world recognises Switzerland for its chocolate and its cows wearing bells. We safeguard Switzerland’s heritage and are part of the country's intangible cultural heritage.
What does a beginner artisan need to become a professional like you?: There is no longer any training in Switzerland to become a blacksmith specialising in my craft. However, if a young person – such as perhaps my daughters in the future! – decides to pursue it, they will need to be persistent. In fact, I made a lot of failed bells before reaching my current level.
How is your profession perceived in Switzerland?: The profession is destined to disappear, as there are only about ten of us left in the whole of Switzerland. Furthermore, more and more people are unaware of the importance of bells for farmers and sometimes even complain about the noise they make. But they remain extremely useful in our mountains and countryside.

Anthony Tschantz is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2001