The city owes the creation of these two magnificent vases to Antonin Proust, a native of Niort. Sculpted by Louis-Léon Cugnot, a Prix de Rome recipient for the Place de Brèche, they have beautified this major space in the city for decades. They are now kept in the Bernard d'Agesci municipal museum.
Les vases Léon-Louis Cugnot (1884) by Léon-Louis CugnotFondation du patrimoine
Monumental vases for a magnificent space
These two vases were designed by Léon-Louis Cugnot for the city of ... Bourges! In 1879, that city asked the Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts to replace eight Medici vases in the bishop's garden that were too old. The minister decided to place four bronze vases in the corners of the parterre. He ordered models from the sculptor Louis‐Léon Cugnot, who completed them at the end of 1882.
These vases have monumental proportions: they are 7.8 feet (2.38 m) and have a diameter of 3.7 feet (1.15 m) at the widest point. They weigh about 1,500 to 1,875 (700 to 850 kg) each.
In 1881, Antonin Proust, France's first Minister of the Arts, took advantage of this order made by the city of Bourges, to have the same works created for his native city of Niort.
Détail du blason de la ville de Niort (1884) by Léon-Louis CugnotFondation du patrimoine
Only the cities' coats of arms, carved on the bottom of the vases, differentiate the models in Bourges from those in Niort.
Signature de Léon-Louis Cugnot sur le pied de l'un de ses vases (1884) by Léon-Louis CugnotFondation du patrimoine
Louis‐Léon Cugnot was a sculptor and received the Grand Prix de Rome in sculpture in 1859.
Dealing with allegorical or mythical subjects, Louis‐Léon Cugnot received commissions for the Palais de Justice in Paris, the Louvre, the Paris Opera and the Hôtel de Ville in Paris, as well as the Trinité and Sorbonne churches.
For these vases, he used a technical palette, which can go from bas-relief to ronde-bosse. The application was made through a process of electroplating, carried out by the Christofle workshops.
Projet de la rampe menant à la place de la Brèche avec les vases de Léon-Louis Cugnot (1889) by Georges LasseronFondation du patrimoine
The decision was made to exhibit these superb creations on the Place de la Brèche, Niort's main square and a former 18th century fairground.
The vases, which arrived by rail in August 1885, were presented to the public then placed in storage awaiting an appropriate display area.
Dessins figurant la place de la Brèche avec les vases de Léon-Louis-Cugnot (1889) by Georges LasseronFondation du patrimoine
The municipal architect Georges Lasseron was commissioned to design a monumental staircase connecting the square to the Brèche garden, where the vases were to be placed. The whole thing was completed in 1891.
Vases de Léon-Louis Cugnot sur la place de la Brèche (1884) by Léon-Louis CugnotFondation du patrimoine
The vases adorned this monumental staircase for more than a century, during which time the Place de Brèche became a huge parking lot.
In 2006, the city decided to do a full renovation. This was when the two pieces were brought down from their pedestals to be put in safekeeping.
Ancien emplacement des vases sur la Place de BrècheFondation du patrimoine
Today, the square is designed to be a green oasis in the heart of Niort's metropolitan area.
Laurence Lamy, director of the city's municipal museums, shows where the two vases stood from 1891 to 2006.
A life-saving restoration
After a century exposed to harsh weather, exhaust fumes, and other pollution, the Brèche vases were desperately in need of renovation.
Détail du vase Hiver Été avant restauration (1884) by Léon-Louis CugnotFondation du patrimoine
Some details had disappeared due to erosion, while others were covered in black.
The restoration of these works has received financial support from public as well as private entities, facilitated by the Fondation du Patrimoine (French Heritage Foundation).
Vase prêt à partir en restauration Léon-Louis Cugnot (1884) by Léon-Louis CugnotFondation du patrimoine
The delicate process of restoration was entrusted to Antoine Amarger, a skilled restorer of metal sculptures, in collaboration with the Coubertin Foundry, located in Saint-Rémy les Chevreuses, in les Yvelines.
The vases were ready to embark on their new journey in 2018.
Figure du Printemps partant en restauration (1884) by Léon-Louis CugnotFondation du patrimoine
The largest sculptural elements were separated from the rest of the vases to ensure greater safety during transportation.
Les moules utilisés pour fondre les parties endommagées du vase (2018)Fondation du patrimoine
Molds were made to create new parts to replace the most damaged elements.
Les vases Léon-Louis Cugnot by Léon-Louis CugnotFondation du patrimoine
A video overview of the challenges and steps of restoring the Brèche vases.
The return of Cugnot's vases
Louis-Léon Cugnot's vases returned to the city of Niort in June 2019 after six months of restoration. Since then, they have been displayed in the main courtyard of the Bernard d'Agesci museum, where people can admire the delicacy of their Four Seasons decoration.
Vase de Léon-Louis Cugnot Printemps Automne restauré (1884) by Léon-Louis CugnotFondation du patrimoine
Each vase is decorated with four large figures: two cherubs, a young man, and a young woman.
Here, the young man is depicted as a hunter, holding a bird in his left hand. It is an allegory of autumn.
The young woman, richly dressed and holding a flowering branch in her left hand, is an allegory of spring.
It is also decorated with bas-reliefs, depicting children engaged in various leisure activities: for example, in a game of blind man's bluff here.
Vase de Léon-Louis Cugnot Hiver Été restauré (1884) by Léon-Louis CugnotFondation du patrimoine
On the second vase, the cherubs are blindfolded.
The female figure, represented as an agricultural worker in the middle of harvest season, is an allegory of summer.
The male figure, wrapped in a scarf and long coat and wearing ice skates, is an allegory of winter.
Vase de Léon-Louis Cugnot Hiver Été restauré (1884) by Léon-Louis CugnotFondation du patrimoine
Young children frolicking on the ice with skates and sleds are depicted on the body of the vase.
Rencontre avec Laurence Lamy - Les vases Cugnot de la place de la BrècheFondation du patrimoine
Interview with Laurence Lamy, director of Niort's municipal museums, who recounts the story of these vases and their restoration.
Our thanks to the Bernard d'Agesci museum team and especially to Laurence Lamy for her invaluable help in creating this content.
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