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Friday, May 14, 2010

Catastrophe A Jupille








We serendipitously acquired a few years ago a very unusual hand carved cabinet. KennyRogersLookalike found it leaning up against a dumpster where we have a storage unit. It has a fantastic albeit tragic history and it was locked. It is extremely elaborate and the carving on the front is an exact replica of the picture on Le Patriote magazine from 1961. In February, 1961 a horrible catastrophe happened in Jupille, Belgium. It was a fly ash flow mine disaster that killed 11 people, 4 women and 7 children. The cabinet has script carved on the bottom Le Roi and Le Reine visitent the catastophe de Jupille...this is all written in french. At the top are the words L'Union fait la force. It was a stroke of luck that we found the illustration of the carving on the 1961 magazine being offered on ebay at the very time we found the cabinet. The likeness is incredible as you can see. I wonder so often why this magnificent piece was so painstakingly carved with a hinged door and lock. What was kept inside and why would someone create it? Did it hang on a wall in a church for offerings? Was is created to be given to Queen Fabiola and King Baudoin? I have emailed History Detectives but they never got back with me. Does anyone have a clue about it? We have tried every skeleton key we have and have pulled and pulled trying to open the beautiful cupboard. Miraculously, my daughter's Dutch husband was looking at it the other morning and suddenly it opened for him..was it because he is Dutch and it took Dutch hands to break the spell? Was it waiting for someone that is from it's neighboring country to release it's interior? The interior is beautiful and highly polished and smooth. It has 2 shelves and in the bottom a hidden compartment...all we found were 4 little round paper punch circles. But that's alright...it is a fantastic remembrance of unfortunate ones who perished in this catastrophe and I think of them every day...they are not forgotten. If any one knows anything about this or can help me get in touch with someone who does know, please let me know. We are chosen to be the keeper of this object and we will keep it safe. One of my favorite blogs Ted and Bunny said the cabinet found us as much as we found it...I believe that! I am compelled to unlock its secret.

SOME HISTORY: One night, early February 1961, the King and Queen were woken up by a phone ringing. Six houses in Jupille, a coal-mining town near Liège, had been buried by a collapsing slag heap. In those houses, four women and seven children were stuck and rescue teams were working nonstop to try and get them out alive. The royal couple didn’t hesitate for one moment but left the palace immediately to inspect the damage and help the people. Upon arrival, the Queen immediately presented herself at the First Aid post and offered her help as a nurse to the doctors, who were baffled by her behaviour. When the slag heap destabilized even further, the security officers tried to get their monarchs out of danger, but the Queen refused to leave: “The King and I will only leave when the danger is gone.”

14 comments:

ted and bunny said...

This is really amazing. . .I think the cupboard found you as much as you found it.
With your writing skills, you could write a whole book around it!
Could you alert the local newspaper to carry a story about it, or even the newspaper in Blgium?
I look forward to any more info you might discover
xx

Kim said...

Some one has brought it here to Indianapolis, Indiana..whether it be from someone's family or an antique dealer perhaps. Jupille I think has been incorporated with another region I think as I was going to write their town hall. Good suggestion to write to a newspaper in Belgium. I think it found us too, and it is constantly on my mind. I feel so compelled to reveal it's secret.

ceecee said...

This is just an incredible story. Yes, I think that you were meant to be the keepers of this cabinet. I hope the History Detectives get back with you. I think it would be fascinating to know its provenance.
Thank you for your comments Kim. You're too kind.
Catherine

Unknown said...

That is a really incredible and interesting story, albeit sad.

ted and bunny said...

Kit pics posted just for you!
x

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Good morning, Kim! Wow! You have a marvelous blog and writing style! The photo of this cabinet and the history behind it make your blog a wonderful place of antique history for those of us (and we are many in this circle of bloggers) is a wonderful way to learn about the pieces we love so for decorating our homes. Thank you for coming to visit my blog. It has been a great year, and I actually started in January 2009. Please come by anytime!!!

Anita

Awais said...

Oh my buddy you blog AWsome really nice :)






regards
http://goolgeme.blogspot.com

My Grama's Soul said...

What an unusual and interesting story. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Jo

Flaviana said...

Dear Kim
thank you so much for visiting my blog and for your kind comments! I loved hearing from you. I enjoyed reading your post AND learning something I didn't know; you certainly know how to write!
I'll be back!!
Hugs
Flaviana

Liz / Tangible Ingredients said...

Wow! What an amazing piece, and such history behind it!

nadine paduart said...

so this how it goes... like, really strange. i visited little byrd, i surf on, and find 'our' king boudewijn in one of your posts. i travel to indiana, to find belgium! ha ha ha..
thank you for this cute coincidence. it's the little things... :)))

nadine paduart said...

hey again, kim. just found your message on my blog. i will look into your post again soon, and see if i can be of any help. cheerio, nadine

Unknown said...

Oh gosh I have goose bumps...how totally amazing!!

Unknown said...

Hello, Mrs RANSOM. I am Ida DETILLEUX from Jupille in Belgium. I am the president of the Commission d'Histoire locale de Jupille. We have seen your message on our blog [http://chljupille.over-blog.com]. It was translated by Mevrouw Nadine PADUART? We thank her very much.
We are very glad that such a kabinet exists. Who has made it ? Probably someone from Belgium who went to America for his work and stayed some years. Thinking about his country of birth, he has done that beautiful Kabinet or has let somebody (an artist) done it.
We prepare an exhibition about that "Catastrophe du Crassier de Jupille" for Oktober 2022 and I have to ask you if you agree that we show your photos and its special story in it.
What an amazing story !