In this month of February, Yves Cordeau received us in his house located near Le Mans (Sarthe) dressed in his Tyrolean costume with velvet pants, a belt with bells and an Austrian hat adorned with about twenty pins. We are in the mood as soon as we cross the door.
His house has now become too small for his entire collection to be visible. He has nearly 4,500 copies of beer mugs. He appeals to communities to make a museum.
– Christine Caillot
A museum so as not to lose the collection
In the house of Marie-Thérèse and Yves Cordeau, there are beer mugs everywhere: in the kitchen, the living room, on the sideboard, under the sofa and in the garage and the cellar. The couple accumulated these large glasses in garage sales, flea markets, and barters and also over several trips, particularly in Alsace and Austria. Except that today, all the pieces can no longer be exhibited to curious visitors. They now want to make it a museum and appeal to communities and private individuals. Yves Cordeau is 70 and his wife is 68 and they have no children. They also want their collection to be passed on once they are no longer alive.
We made a lot of steps but for the moment no return; we would like the collection to stay in Allonnes
The couple is very attached to Sarthe and Allonnes and would like this collection to remain in the town. They have made several approaches but so far no response.
– Christine Caillot
A collection that began in 1978 and unique copies
Yves Cordeau began his collection by winning two beer mugs in 1978 at a carnival. He then scoured many garage sales and flea markets all over France. He also went with his wife to Alsace and Austria. Beer mugs that he sometimes picked up for a few euros. Example with the one representing the September 11 attack. A mug on which we can see the two twin towers with an airplane and a Statue of Liberty on the top.
Another original mug: that of an Austrian advertisement with a photo of a group of musicians with Georges Brassens.
And then there are also mugs in the shape of famous people or men like that of François Mitterrand or the kings of Poland.
– Christine Caillot