Jean Bergara excelled in the creation and decoration of makhilas.
In 1936, at the National Exhibition in Paris, he has awarded the prize for the Best Worker in France as a producer of Makhila Basque walking sticks.
A year later, he took part in the Paris Universal Exhibition and won two medals. During this exhibiton, his work was noticed by the King of Bulgaria during his visit in November. The organising committee then decided to gift the monarch with a makhila made by Jean Bergara. The makhila bore the motto “My friend and my aid”.
A few days later, Jean received a letter from the French President Albert Lebrun.
