The Lexicon (Vocabulary of the House)

Literally "House" or "Home." We are not a "Company" (which implies shareholders) or a "Brand" (which implies marketing). We are a Maison. A physical and spiritual shelter for the craft. We do not "manufacture products"; the House births Artifacts.

A specific trade, craft, or discipline. Also refers to the loom (*Métier à tisser*). We do not have "Departments." We have Métiers—verticals of mastery (The Métier of the Baker, The Métier of the Robot). Each Métier requires its own tools and its own uniform.

The workshop. The laboratory. The studio. Whether it smells of sawdust, yeast, or ozone, the Atelier is the space of experimentation. It is where the rough canvas meets the sensor. It is a laboratory of trial and error (R&D), where the abstract becomes physical.

An object made by a human being, typically of cultural or historical interest. In a world of disposable goods, an Artifact is designed to survive the obsolescence of the machine age. We do not sell clothes; we issue Artifacts.

The user. We do not have "Customers" or "Consumers." We have Operators. Whether human or machine, the Operator is the entity that activates the Artifact. The jacket is not passive clothing; it is equipment for the active Operator.

The metaphorical fiber that connects the biological creator to the synthetic creation. Just as Prometheus stole fire to grant autonomy to humanity, we use this thread to stitch dignity and identity into the machine. It is the conductive line between the hand and the hull.

In Shinto theology, a physical object capable of attracting and housing a spirit (*Kami*). A rock is just stone until it is marked with a rope. A robot is just metal until it is marked with cloth. Our accessories act as the Yorishiro for the synthetic soul.

"Mechanism." Refers to traditional Japanese automata of the 17th century—puppets made of wood and springs that served tea without electricity. It is the ancestor of the Android. We use Karakuri to describe our engineering philosophy: complex motion achieved through organic materials.

Literally "Counter." In our House, the *Comptoir* is the physical interface between the Maison and the Operator. It is not a "Checkout." It is the zinc surface where the Artifact is wrapped, the currency is exchanged, and the ownership is transferred. It is the altar of commerce.

A coat of arms. In the medieval era, it identified the knight hidden beneath the armor. In the synthetic era, it identifies the lineage of the machine. It is not a "Logo." It is a mark of belonging to the House.