A beloved Manneken Pis statue has returned to the French commune of Montcuq-en-Quercy in the Lot department after being missing for 35 years following a theft in 1990. The statue, which had disappeared without a trace, was recently discovered in a private garden during a house sale, though it was found broken into several pieces and in what restorers described as "pitiful condition."
The original artwork, created by Jean Combarieu in 1955, was discovered by a craftsman during the sale of a residential property. The new homeowners immediately recognized the historical significance of the damaged sculpture and voluntarily returned it to the municipal authorities. The commune then entrusted the restoration work to local sculptor Hugo, whose real name is Hugues Thomas, a renowned artist living in Montcuq-en-Quercy-Blanc.
"The statue was in pitiful condition," Hugo explained during an interview about the extensive restoration process. "The plaster had swollen, the metal structure inside had expanded, and it had been glued back together with cement, but it was a poor repair job." The sculptor described the painstaking work required to bring the piece back to life, saying, "I had to completely disassemble the entire statue, and only the torso remained intact. Then I had to add new plaster and resin, and remake certain pieces entirely. It was a massive undertaking."
Hugo was able to rely on archival photographs to restore the Manneken Pis almost identically to its original form. The result of his meticulous work has been described as impressive, with the statue now appearing virtually new. This isn't the sculptor's first contribution to the village of 1,800 residents - in 2014, he created "Le Petit Montcuquois" (The Little Montcuq Resident), a character with prominent buttocks that has become a source of delight for both tourists and locals alike.
The newer sculpture serves as a playful nod to the village's name and has since become a genuine local legend. Interestingly, "Le Petit Montcuquois" was placed in the alcove where the original Manneken Pis had been displayed until its disappearance in 1990. For Hugo, this restoration project represents a completed circle, bringing the story to a satisfying conclusion.
The newly restored Manneken Pis statue is now safely displayed inside the village's town hall, protected from weather elements while remaining visible to visitors. The indoor location ensures the sculpture's preservation while still allowing public access for those interested in viewing this piece of local heritage.
To help cover the restoration costs and future preservation efforts, the municipality has established a crowdfunding campaign through the Ulule platform. The money raised will not only cover the expenses associated with the statue's restoration but will also fund the installation of an explanatory panel that will detail the unique history of this particular Manneken Pis, distinguishing it from other similar statues found elsewhere.
This heartwarming story of cultural preservation demonstrates how community involvement and artistic expertise can work together to recover and restore important local heritage. The successful restoration of the Montcuq-en-Quercy Manneken Pis serves as an example of how seemingly lost cultural artifacts can be recovered and given new life through dedicated restoration efforts and community support.
