The wood-turning activity began in the 5th century in the region of Saint-Claude. During long winters, men carved boxwood, a material easy to work with and very present in the forests and valleys of the Jura. Over time, pedal lathes became water-powered and later electric, and the wooden object industry flourished until the 1970s. Today, the craft still resists and people like Robert Marichy perpetuate its age-old tradition.