First I have to make a modest admission: when I heard about the
first time of the buried treasure of «PU-YI», I first believed in a new avatar of the
soldiers of XIAN in China. I wondered if PU-YI was the name of a distant
Chinese dynasty from which we found vases or statues…
Then, when I was mistaken, when I was told the spelling of POUILLY, I believed in
a Bachique joke… “Le trésor de Pouilly”: un tout programme… Mais bien
sure POUILLY-SUR-MEUSE is not POUILLY-SUR-LOIRE and I learned with
amazement and admiration the truth of this treasure, of this POUILLY not smoked nor leaked,
but buried and miraculously found.
It is a story like we read only in novels. We all dreamed of
one day dig up an ancient treasure in the garden of the family home; and then we
we were resigned with LA FONTAINE and «Le Laboureur et ses Enfants», in
consider that the real treasure is work, picks – and in the end, not
other treasure! Well, this fabulous discovery pleases us first perhaps because
that he gives us back some of our child soul.
In 2006, two individuals unearthed a magnificent treasure. No less than
31 pieces of Renaissance silverware, silver and vermeil that remind me of
these «drops of silver, of silverware» that Charles d'Orleans evokes in this
beautiful little rondeau on the return of spring – the sun today
also remember…
Three cups, four timpani, a ewer, twenty-one spoons, of which twelve are silver
and vermeil: this is not an inventory at the PRÉVERT or even the Boris VIAN, but
some fragments of memory and dream, «inanimate objects» which «have
a soul», that of a family, probably of the Renaissance, we do not know very well
which, and our imagination eagerly awaits that researchers give it a
name and face. They are helped by the prestigious hallmarks of four cities, Reims,
Châlons-en-Champagne, Strasbourg and Paris. They are in any case pieces of a
beauty, finesse and exceptional value.
Nearly half a millennium has passed, and yet these masterpieces of craftsmanship are
before us intact, saved from the destruction of time and the violence of history.
Because, as you know, the wars of religion, in this Lorraine which was one of the
theatres, are undoubtedly the context in which this treasure was
hidden, probably to escape looting. I specify that looters
today, who walk through archaeological sites with detectors
are true THENARDIER of memory, and that I will fight with
determination against these depredations. In any case, it is a beautiful symbol that the year
Henri IV, the man of the Edict of Nantes, makes these remains reappear and puts them in shelter
of oblivion.
No doubt those who buried these coins could never recover them. But
today, with years and centuries, they have become a treasure in a sense
very different. Time has also improved this Pouilly, and the value of this «treasure» is
more just merchant, but also and above all heritage. It is no longer a rich
private possession, it is now the sharing and inheritance of everyone and everyone. And it is
the reason why the State wanted, since 2009, that it be elevated to the rank of treasury
National», an extremely rare distinction for silverware.
Congratulations to the Regional Cultural Affairs Directorate (RDCA)
Department of Archaeology, as well as to the Regional Council and its
General Inventory of Cultural Heritage, which quickly established
a first diagnosis. I especially congratulate Mr. Francis MUEL, Curator
and Michèle BIMBENET-PRIVAT, Chief Curator of the
heritage, both recognized specialists in goldsmithing, who drew up an inventory
accurate, identified the punches and established the dates. By this they opened the way to
further research within a multidisciplinary team that has already
began to work and formulate initial hypotheses.
The acquisition of a national treasure is a race against time – an image
which is a tribute to the marathon runner emeritus that you are, dear Jean-Pierre
MASSERET – : the State has 30 months, not one more day, to carry it out. At
the acquisition was made thanks to the assistance of the Fonds
the heritage of the State and the exemplary mobilization of local authorities.
The Region, immediately struck by the exceptional character of the discovery, has
support in principle in order to acquire these coins and to
in a Lorraine museum. It has also, by agreement with the City of
Nancy, to participate in the scientific exploitation of this «treasure».
Nancy and her Urban Community, this City of Lights that you have sublimated,
dear André ROSSINOT, has been pursuing a proactive policy for many years now
culture. I was able to see this at the inauguration of the ARTEM campus, which
gathered us last November. She is particularly committed to the
protection, restoration and enhancement of the architectural and artistic heritage. It
relies on a key player for the enrichment of collections, the
Société d'histoire de la Lorraine and the Musée Lorrain, where the pieces will be hosted.
Once again, Nancy played her role as a public patron.
But culture is no longer just today, and I am delighted about it, a “state affair”,
a matter of the State: it is, by private patronage in particular, the business of all and of
businesses and soon individuals. Once again, thanks to the
opportunities offered by the 2002 Law on Museums and Patronage, the
was able to be associated with the public effort. I am delighted and I want to thank
CNP Assurances and its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Gilles BENOIST,
today among us, for his exemplary action in favour of
national heritage and public collections.
I hope that this kind of operation will continue to develop, because they are a
a tremendous lever for the development of our museums.
After many months of work, the financial package was completed in order to avoid a
public sale that no one could wish. In this regard, I
thanks the Sotheby’s France Company for allowing the negotiation to succeed.
Everyone will soon be able to admire this treasure within the jewels of architecture
Renaissance that are the former ducal palace of Nancy and the church and convent of
Cordeliers, who will make a tailor-made box.
I am also proud of the active participation of the State in the vast renovation project
led with determination by Francine ROZE, Chief Curator
heritage, which must lead to one of the richest history museums in France,
the museum of all the Lorrains from the origins to the present day. The treasure of Pouilly will remain
very legitimately in Lorraine. The region will grow this treasure especially in
the framework of the great heritage event «Renaissance 2012» currently in
preparation.
This treasure will then be again in full glory, awakened from the «Meuse endormeuse»
sung by Charles PÉGUY, after half a millennium of underground sleep. And this
Discovery confirms the wisdom of these beautiful verses by Baudelaire,
of parable that reminds us of the dark and hidden presence around us of good
of forgotten treasures:
- Many jewels sleep buried
In darkness and forgetfulness,
Far from picks and probes».
Thank you.
Address by Frédéric Mitterrand, Minister of Culture and Communication, on the occasion of the official presentation of the Pouilly-sur-Meuse Treasury
National treasure acquired for the Lorrain Museum with the help of the State, the Lorraine Region, the City of Nancy, the Société d'Histoire de la Lorraine and the Lorrain Museum, and thanks to the patronage of CNP Assurances Monsieur le Ministre and Mayor of Nancy, André ROSSINOT,Minister and Member of Parliament for Meurthe-et-Moselle, Laurent HENART,Minister and President of the Regional Council, Jean-Pierre MASSERET,Director General of CNP Assurances, Gilles BENOIST,Director General of Heritage, Philippe BELAVAL,Ladies and Gentlemen,Dear Friends,
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