Le Moulin à Couleurs

Le Moulin à Couleurs, founded in 1866 in Écordal (Ardennes) by the Boizet family, is the last remaining factory in France dedicated to the production of natural earth colors. In 1992, the company became "Le Moulin à Couleurs" LLC under the direction of Bernard Poix, with leadership later passing to his son, Emmanuel Poix, in 2002.

Core Activity

The company produces natural pigments (earth colors) from both local and imported raw materials, including :

• Ardennes Sienna Earth (yellow or red depending on the firing process)
• Burgundy Ochres, Ardennes Slate, red pigments from India, black pigments from Germany, and more

Artisanal Process

The production methods remain strictly traditional and artisanal :

• Drying : Natural drying (lasting up to one year), followed by heating at 200°C to obtain yellow tones.
• Calcination : Firing at 700°C to transform yellows into vibrant red tones.
• Grinding : Ultrafine milling to a particle size of 30-40 microns.

Product RangeThe company offers a palette of approximately 45 natural shades, ranging from light gray to deep black, including numerous variations of yellow, orange, and red. In total, the catalog features nearly 80 pigments, comprising both natural earth colors and other mineral pigments.