on the one hand, bakers or pots, working alone and producing only singular objects and in small series; on the other hand, the crafts ‘premier entreprise de France’, the creator of wealth and employment. Between these two images, where is the reality of French crafts? This book contains an issue which had not been thoroughly investigated since the years 1970-1980. By comparing the newly-retired baby-boom generation and the newly-established generation, this book seeks to understand the transformations of crafts. It shows that there is a variety of ways of accessing craftsman status. Supported by a policy aimed at reducing unemployment by encouraging business start-ups, the representatives of craftsmen aim at economic development and artisanal employment, as well as opening up the craftsmen group to new entrants. The socio-economic environment fosters this policy, which is echoed by individuals who find it difficult to put themselves into employment, either because their initial training does not offer them the opportunities they expect, or because their employment and working conditions have deteriorated and lead them to retrain. Finally, the less typical craftsmen group, which brings together individuals with diverse backgrounds and knowledge, is less able to see under the characteristics of a social group.