At Foster Rosières, craftsmanship comes to life through human encounters and rare skills. Cédryc Henry de Frahan, founder of FORGE FERDINAND, embodies this alliance between family memory, precision of gesture, and contemporary creation. In the old barn transformed into a workshop, he perpetuates a deeply Belgian cutlery heritage.
A family legacy etched in steel
Behind Forge Ferdinand lies a story that spans generations. Cédryc Henry de Frahan pays tribute to his great-great-grandfather Fernand van der Straeten, a Belgian master cutler born in 1856. He founded the Belgian Manufacture of Gembloux in 1923, specialising in surgical tools, before incorporating a cutlery department.
Even though this activity came to an end in 1969, the year Cédryc was born, it remains a profound source of inspiration. Today, this family heritage is being revived in Foster, in a workshop nestled in the heart of nature.
Want to discover their art?
Take part in a Foster team-building event and witness a unique demonstration of their expertise.
Knives combining tradition and modernity
Driven by a passion for metal and respect for the craft, Cédryc hand-forges bespoke knives that combine ancestral know-how with modern techniques.
Its signature range, "Ferdinand", honours its ancestor while adapting to contemporary uses: kitchen, hunting, or table knives, designed as durable, functional objects imbued with meaning. The models "Fernand" and "Hellène" reflect this dual intention: performance and elegance, masculinity and femininity.
A knife maker rooted in Foster
At Foster Rosières, Cédryc's workshop is much more than a production space: it is a vibrant area of craftsmanship, transmission, and creation. During immersive team-building events, he offers hot forging demonstrations — a unique opportunity to discover the world of artisanal cutlery up close.
An expertise at the service of everyday life
In addition to his creations, Cédryc offers a service for the repair, sharpening, and maintenance of knives (kitchen, hunting, collection…). He travels all over Belgium to bring your blades back to life with precision and passion.