A shop, then an adventure
In 1976, Dominic Stora and his wife opened Après la pluie, a shop selling antiques and books in Beaumont-en-Auge, Normandy. Requests from collectors of antique toys sparked their interest in kaleidoscopes. Finding the available models rare, costly or disappointing, they decided to make their own.
1977 · The first creations
Drawing on optical knowledge gained through years of photography, they made their first kaleidoscopes in 1977 and offered them in the shop. Their belief was simple: an object with such charm deserves beautiful materials and the time needed for careful craftsmanship.
A love of materials and craftsmanship
Precious woods, bookbinding paper, leather, brass, mother-of-pearl, shagreen and decorative stones are selected for their character and the way they age. The collection grew to more than thirty models, from simple to sophisticated, alongside reproductions of early nineteenth-century optical toys. Every creation is handmade with the same attention to refinement, subtle colours and lasting quality.
From Normandy to the world
Through trade fairs in Paris, Frankfurt, Nuremberg, London, New York and Tokyo, the creations found an audience beyond France. More than 70% of production is exported. Collectors, enthusiasts, museum shops, galleries and major houses share this appreciation of distinctive objects. Corporate gifts and personalised pieces are a further part of the story.