An embarrassing accident occurred at the Besançon museum. While operating a cleaning machine, a maintenance worker hit the base of the Avrigney bull, a copper alloy statue dating from the 1st century. The work, already weakened by time, fell and lost its last intact leg.
Discovered in 1756 in a field in Haute-Saône, this three-horned animal is a historical rarity that was acquired by the city in 1873. It was exhibited balanced on a single leg, defying the weight of the centuries, until the cleaning machine crossed its path.
Besançon's deputy for culture, Aline Chassagne, tried to put the incident into perspective. According to her, the broken leg had already been repaired in the 19th century and its restoration was planned anyway. The accident could therefore be an opportunity for a thorough restoration.
As for the maintenance worker, no sanctions seem to be envisaged. "These things happen," said the elected official, specifying that the museum's insurance had been requested to cover the repairs. The story of the Avrigney bull therefore continues with a new chapter, hopefully one of successful restoration.
