Its owners were tanners from the beginning of the 16th century
and the local civil status tells us that the first who was born was called
Antoine Fabre, and lived 100 years (1599-1699);
so he was born under the reign of Henri IV.

This corporation, the tanners skinners tawers,
who controlled both the breeding and processing of leather,
held the upper hand in the hierarchy of the artisans of the time
and belonged to the social class of the average bourgeoisie Provencal.

While leading a simple life, without pomp,
they aspired to large and comfortable home for this era.

This home offers one of the first tiles
manufactured in Annot in the local tile workshop.

The terracotta tiles are from the 18th century,
and were fixed with red plaster onto original flagstones
dating from the construction of The Mansion itself;
the huge chestnut beams are also from the origins,
as well as the low wooden ceiling of bedroom;

It is the same for the rare mountain ceiling of the library,
who offers between the beams, exposed joists
which are only made of chestnut logs,
ceiling on which a rustic flagstone of lime mortar is built
supporting the upper floor tiling.

Built with local sandstone,
the walls often reached 50 to 80 cm in thickness,
the inside of these houses was coated of a local red plaster
and a sandstone sand mortar, it was toned “old pink”
we can still find it under contemporary paintings,
as on the current entrance hall ceiling.

The outside was left naked stone, gilded by centuries of light
and because a fashion at the end of the 19th century.
Sometimes, other houses, were covered with a painted plaster
of bad taste, in Genoese fashion.

The windows large enough on the 1st floor (for clarity)
are reduced on the upper floors,
to keep the freshness in the summer;
the windows appear in the common houses in the 18th century only.
Only religious buildings have glass tiles.
The rest are satisfied with oiled paper or animal bladders.

The fireplaces were only to be found in the kitchen
and spreaded some warmth in the evening.
The mantel piece of the one we have here has been restored
in the 70's of the last century, in the purest local style.

The ashtray, on the right,
allowed to keep during the night the embers under the ashes
and to rekindle the fire in the morning,
it is as old as The Mansion itself..

The outside shutters appeared during the 19th century;
previously only existed internal shutters,
which we find ourselves here, three types of the 18th century,
They are in chestnut in the bedroom (unique in Annot) .

The south facing window shows a splendid example of a sandstone mullion
as old as The Mansion which has never been restored.

The furniture was spartan until the 18th century
with a cupboard for linen and clothing, two large bins for flour and corn,
a kneading trough to prepare bread
which was baked in the communal village oven.
There were a few fireside chairs, benches and one or two heavy tables
to complete the furniture.
The beds were simply made from large crates put up on legs
which were then filled with straw or dead leaves to make mattresses
which were changed once a year.
A thick heavy slitched cotton cover and eiderdown
were necessary to keep warm and to be able to sleep in these freezing rooms.

The internal and external doors were made of chestnut or walnut
and were not very high as local people were much shorter then.

At the front door, you will find a superb 18th century door latch,
and at the bathroom door one from 17th century (wrought iron)

In the beginning of the 18th century, we find in our region,
in well-to-do households, more refined furniture:
dressers, armchairs, clocks ;
The one we find has a mechanism of the early 19th century.

We also find, rarely, a closed cupboard
where was enclosed a pile of terracotta,
connected to the street gutter, for dishwashing
(Here the sink has been changed).

Many objects of daily life that you're going to see around,
are a part of the life of The Mansion for a very long time.
You will see also, we hope, all the changes required to receive you;
they are essential to our comfort of life today;
We hope, however, to have kept to this home
its old soul and its sweet nostalgia.