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French Town Rebuilds Unique Statue of Liberty Replica
19 Apr
Summary
- A unique Statue of Liberty replica was gifted to Izon in 1926.
- The original statue, destroyed in WWII, differed from the iconic New York version.
- Izon is crowdfunding to reinstall its 100-year-old donated statue.
The French town of Izon is embarking on a project to restore its civic pride by rebuilding a unique Statue of Liberty replica. This statue was initially donated to the town in 1926 by Rey Jeanton, a local man who had made his fortune in California before returning to Izon to retire.
The original statue, which stood for over a decade, was destroyed during World War II and subsequently forgotten. The idea to rebuild it resurfaced when former town councillor Virginie Vidorreta discovered old postcards featuring the statue. Investigations revealed it was not a direct replica of the iconic New York statue.
Izon's Lady Liberty had distinct features, including her left hand on her heart and a different crown. After identifying the sculptor as Toussaint, the town commissioned a foundry to create a new mould based on archival images. A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to raise €15,000 of the €100,000 needed.
The rebuilt statue is set to be inaugurated on July 14, 2026, exactly 100 years after Jeanton's donation. This initiative not only aims to restore a piece of local history but also to foster a stronger sense of community in Izon, a town that has grown into a residential commuter hub.
