Created in 1898, Bibendum is Michelin’s mascot and one of the world’s most famous advertising figures. Made up of a stack of tires, this character first appeared at a time when the automobile was still a novelty. His name comes from a Latin expression meaning roughly “one must drink.” In the early posters, Bibendum symbolically “drinks” away the obstacles on the road. Over time, he became much more than an advertising tool. He entered the history of graphic design, design, and popular culture. Few industrial mascots have achieved such longevity. Bibendum demonstrates how modern companies create their own mythologies. Through him, a technical object becomes a character, then a cultural icon. He now belongs as much to the history of art as to that of industry.Lire la suiteBibendum
Pantopique : 02-espace
Un pantopique correspond à la réunion de quelques repères, plus ou moins nombreux, que vous pouvez commenter, compléter, étendre, selon vos propres champs d’expériences, de savoirs, d’enquêtes… - contact@21dialogues21.org
Kiryu-Tenmangū Shrine (桐生天満宮) is a branch of Kyoto/Kitano Tenmangū Shrine and one of the five major shrines in the Kanto region, where it serves as the guardian shrine of the city of Kiryu. This shrine has a long history. According to its records, it was built to worship the deity Amano Hohi no Mikoto, before later becoming a Tenmangu dedicated to the deity Sugawara no Michizane at the beginning of the Northern and Southern Courts period. (…) Furthermore, although Tenmangu is commonly known as the “god of learning,” the blessings of this shrine are not limited to that alone. Kiryu, whose scenic beauty has long been renowned, occupies an ideal location from a feng shui perspective. In other words, this place can be described as a kind of spiritual epicenter. In accordance with feng shui practices, the main shrine houses the four gods Seiryu, Byakko, Suzaku, and Genbu, positioned respectively in the east, west, south, and north. Their many blessings, drawn from the energy of heaven and earth, include business prosperity, family well-being, good health, happiness, and fortune, as well as protection from disasters.Lire la suiteKiryu-Tenmangū (Kiryu)
Fondée en 1808 par Isaac Rodrigues-Henriques, la Philomathique de Bordeaux est le fruit du siècle des Lumières. Initialement, l’école avait pour mission de promouvoir le savoir et de diffuser les connaissances scientifiques et techniques parmi les élites bordelaises. Le nom même de « Philomathique », issu des racines grecques « philo » (aimer) et « mathique » (les sciences), traduit…Lire la suitePhilomathique de Bordeaux
Il fallait trouver une héroïne ; beaucoup de noms furent prononcés. Du côté des hommes, Talazac, Taskin et Cobalet formaient une superbe distribution. Mais, pour la Manon, le choix resta indécis. Beaucoup, certes, avaient du talent, une grande réputation même, mais je ne sentais pas une seule artiste qui répondît à ce rôle, comme je le voulais, et qui aurait…Lire la suiteIl fallait trouver une héroïne… (Manon)
Before a fabric can be woven, it must first be conceived. The zuanka 図案家, or pattern designer, occupies a unique position in the Japanese textile industry. Their work consists of creating designs that are then translated into threads, colors, and weaving structures. They operate at the intersection of art and industry. The designer must understand the technical constraints of the craft while remaining attentive to changing tastes. Their creations respond to commercial demands but also contribute to the invention of new aesthetics. In certain periods, the best designers exert an influence comparable to that of contemporary fashion designers. Their work reveals the importance of imagination in an activity often perceived as purely artisanal.Lire la suitezuanka
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The yukata 浴衣 is a Japanese garment that is often associated today with summer festivals and leisure time, although its history is more complex. Originally, it was a lightweight garment worn after bathing. Its popularity stems from a combination of comfort, simplicity, and elegance. Unlike some more formal garments, the yukata allows for great freedom in patterns and colors. Its development has helped support numerous textile industries across Japan. The fabrics used for yukata often reflect the evolving aesthetic tastes of a given era. Flowers, waves, geometric patterns, and seasonal motifs make up a particularly rich visual vocabulary. The yukata is an excellent example of a garment where everyday use and artistic creation intersect. Studying it allows us to explore the relationships between textiles, climate, and social interaction.Lire la suiteyukata
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Vulcanization represents one of the major turning points in the history of materials. Before its development, natural rubber had significant limitations: it deformed when exposed to heat and became brittle in cold weather. The addition of sulfur followed by heat treatment creates stable bonds between the material’s molecules. This transformation significantly improves its strength and durability. The term refers to Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and the forge. The choice of this name underscores the idea of a material reshaped by the mastery of heat. Thanks to vulcanization, rubber moved beyond the realm of curiosity to become a leading industrial resource. Tires, gaskets, soles, cables, and thousands of other products benefit from it. Few processes have contributed as much to modern mobility. Vulcanization represents the exemplary convergence of science, industry, and the transformation of the material world.Lire la suitevulcanisation
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The term “velocipede” refers to several early types of bicycles developed in the 19th century. These machines represent a decisive milestone in the history of personal transportation. For the first time, a rider could cover significant distances using only their own muscle power, while benefiting from the mechanical efficiency of the wheels. The earliest models were often uncomfortable and difficult to handle, but they opened up a vast field of innovation. The velocipede contributed to the transformation of cities, leisure activities, and conceptions of movement. It also fostered a new relationship between the body and speed. Even before the automobile, it offered a modern experience of personal mobility. Its development spurred advances in metallurgy, bearings, tires, and road infrastructure. Through it, a culture of movement emerged that would profoundly shape the 19th and 20th centuries. The velocipede is thus one of the direct ancestors of the contemporary world of transportation.Lire la suitevélocipède
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L’urushi 漆 est une laque naturelle traditionnelle au Japon [pratiquée également sous des formes diverses par ex. en Chine ou en Corée]. Elle est produite à partir de la sève de l’arbre d’urushi, également connu sous le nom d’arbre à laque (Toxicodendron vernicifluum). Elle sert à magnifier des bols, des plateaux, des boîtes, des ustensiles de cuisine, des instruments de…Lire la suiteurushi
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Tartan (or breacan) – Tartan is a checkered fabric generally associated with Scotland. Its appearance results from the regular interweaving of threads of different colors in the warp and weft. Although checkered fabrics exist in many parts of the world, tartan has taken on a special place in the Scottish imagination. Starting in the 18th century and especially in the 19th century, certain patterns gradually became associated with clans, families, or institutions. This evolution contributed to the construction of a modern national identity. Tartan demonstrates how a textile pattern can become a collective emblem. Its influence extends far beyond traditional clothing. It can be found in fashion, design, cultural movements, and even certain forms of social protest.Lire la suitetartan
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The Tibetan prayer wheel combines mechanical movement with spiritual practice. A cylinder mounted on an axle, it typically contains sacred texts or mantras inscribed on paper. By turning it, the devotee symbolically recites the prayers it contains. The circular motion thus becomes a form of religious action. The circle and rotation are associated with the continuity of the world and the circulation of teachings. This object also allows us to explore the connections between artisanal techniques, devotional practices, and cosmological representations.Lire la suiteroue de prière (tibétaine)
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The Wheel of Fortune is one of the most powerful images in medieval European culture. Inherited from antiquity and popularized by the writings of Boethius, it represents the instability of the human condition. People rise and fall with the turns of the goddess Fortune, never able to control their destiny for long. In manuscripts, cathedrals, and literary works, this wheel depicts kings becoming beggars and the humble rising to power. The image is based on a fundamental observation: any circular motion implies a change in position. The wheel thus becomes a metaphor for time, chance, and the fragility of human achievements. Unlike transport wheels, which allow us to control movement, the Wheel of Fortune reminds us of what lies beyond our control. Its influence spans the centuries and continues to appear in games, performances, and everyday expressions. It demonstrates how a technical object can become a tool for philosophical reflection. The wheel is no longer merely a material instrument; it becomes a way of thinking about the world.Lire la suiteroue de Fortune
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The wheel is a circular mechanical device that rotates around an axis to facilitate the movement of people, animals, and loads. It is considered one of the most important inventions in human history. The first known wheels appeared around 3500 B.C. in Mesopotamia, where they were initially used on potter’s wheels before being adapted for transportation. This invention marked a decisive step in the development of societies, as it made it possible to move much heavier loads with less effort. Thanks to the wheel, trade expanded, distances became easier to travel, and economic activities became more efficient. Its use gradually spread to many civilizations around the world. Over the centuries, the wheel underwent numerous improvements: solid wooden wheels, spoked wheels, metal-rimmed wheels, and eventually wheels fitted with tires. Its importance is not limited to transportation. It also gave rise to numerous technical mechanisms, such as mills, gears, clocks, industrial machinery, and many tools. The wheel thus plays an essential role in the fields of agriculture, crafts, industry, and transportation.Lire la suiteroue
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A tire is a rubber ring mounted around a wheel to provide contact between the vehicle and the ground. Its main functions are to support the vehicle’s weight, provide traction, transmit braking and acceleration forces, and absorb some of the road’s unevenness. The invention of the pneumatic tire dates back to 1845, when Robert William Thomson filed a patent for a wheel equipped with an air-filled casing. However, this innovation saw little use until 1888, when John Boyd Dunlop developed an inflatable tire for bicycles. The success of this invention led to its adoption on early automobiles. In 1891, Michelin developed the removable tire, making it easier to replace and repair. Throughout the 20th century, tires underwent numerous advancements thanks to the use of new materials, the introduction of the radial tire, and improvements in manufacturing processes. Today, they offer better traction, longer life, reduced fuel consumption, and enhanced safety. Current research focuses on tires that are more environmentally friendly, connected, and adapted to new transportation technologies.Lire la suitepneu
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The penny-farthing, sometimes called a “high-wheeler,” is one of the most recognizable vehicles in the history of transportation. Its enormous front wheel and small rear wheel give it a spectacular silhouette. Its name comes from two British coins whose dimensions resembled the vehicle’s proportions. This configuration was driven by technical logic: before the invention of modern drivetrains, increasing the wheel’s diameter allowed for greater distance covered with each pedal stroke. The grand-bi represents a phase of intense experimentation in the history of the bicycle. It bears witness to an era when engineers were still searching for the most efficient forms of individual mobility. Riding it requires skill, balance, and courage. Despite its limitations, it helped popularize travel on two wheels. Even today, it remains a visual icon of 19th-century mechanical ingenuity. It serves as a reminder that the most familiar technologies are often the result of numerous trials and detours.Lire la suitepenny-farthing
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The orimono donya (織物問屋), or textile merchant, played a central role in the textile economy. Unlike the weaver, he generally did not produce the fabrics himself. His role was to organize the flow of goods, finance production, and connect workshops with urban markets. During the Edo period and later in the Meiji era, these merchants often served as the true orchestrators of the local textile system. They commissioned designs, provided capital, selected raw materials, and ensured sales in major consumer centers. The most prosperous built grand residences and participated in local public life. They embodied a form of commercial capitalism based as much on market knowledge as on risk management.Lire la suiteorimono donya
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The obi 帯 is one of the most sophisticated forms of the sash. Its significance extends far beyond the realm of clothing. Over the centuries, its width, texture, color, and method of tying have signified age, social status, marital status, or even the ceremonial occasion. The knot at the back constitutes a true visual language. The obi is also a space for aesthetic invention where patterns inspired by nature, poetry, the seasons, or beliefs are displayed. It represents an interesting paradox: while it is a constraining element that holds the garment in place, it is also one of the primary vehicles for creativity. In the global history of costume, few objects have concentrated so many social and artistic meanings into a single strip of fabric. Its study opens up themes of weaving, the body, social representation, and the transmission of craftsmanship.Lire la suiteobi
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Nishijin-ori 西陣織 is one of Japan’s most prestigious textile traditions. Developed in a historic district of Kyoto, it is distinguished by the richness of its patterns, the complexity of its weaves, and the use of particularly refined threads. For centuries, these fabrics have been associated with ceremonial garments, religious objects, and prestigious accessories. Nishijin-ori artisans often draw on skills passed down through several generations. Each fabric is the result of collaboration between designers, dyers, yarn preparers, and weavers. This collaborative process underscores that great artisanal traditions are rarely the work of a single individual. Nishijin-ori also stands as a remarkable example of the dialogue between conservation and innovation. Traditional techniques continue to be practiced while incorporating new materials and new uses.Lire la suitenishijin-ori
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The Jacquard loom, developed in the early 19th century by Joseph Marie Jacquard, marked a major revolution in the history of textiles. His innovation relied on the use of punch cards to automatically control the woven patterns. Thanks to this system, complex designs could be reproduced with unprecedented precision. The Jacquard loom profoundly transformed European textile industries and also influenced Asian production centers. Its significance, however, extends beyond the realm of textiles. The punch cards would later inspire several pioneers of computer science. The Jacquard loom is thus often presented as a forerunner of modern programmable systems. It demonstrates how an innovation born in the world of thread can alter the history of machinery. This convergence of craftsmanship, automation, and information remains one of the most fascinating episodes in industrial history. Here, textiles become a technological laboratory.Lire la suitemétier Jacquard
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Latex is the milky substance produced by many plants when they are cut. In the case of the rubber tree, this liquid contains the particles used to manufacture natural rubber. Long viewed as a botanical curiosity, latex has gradually become a strategic raw material. Its extraction relies on a simple yet precise technique: making a controlled incision to collect the liquid without causing lasting damage to the tree. This process, known as tapping, requires experience and consistency. Latex illustrates a common pattern in the history of technology: a natural material acquires new meanings as scientific knowledge advances. Even today, it remains at the heart of many industrial supply chains. Studying it helps connect the plant world to that of materials. Bridging the gap between the rainforest and the chemistry lab, latex reminds us that even the most modern objects often retain deeply biological roots.Lire la suitelatex
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