André Sommer (the boss of JP Leconte) – ©Axel Gyldén
What do the Top 14 of rugby, the 24 hours of Le Mans and the French Open of golf have in common? All the winners of these sporting events have one day held in their hands a cup or a trophy made by JP Leconte. Located behind the Carreau du Temple, this Marais SME with old-fashioned charm is one of the most picturesque in Paris.
Founded in 1919, this artisanal establishment is indeed a repository of centuries-old know-how. Here, for more than 100 years, we have been making cups, trophies and medals to reward, thank and celebrate great champions and less famous athletes, or even not famous at all but licensed from a football or golf club, pétanque, rowing, etc.
Cuts, JP Leconte – ©Axel Gyldén
“Here, we engrave and maintain the Brennus Shield every year, awarded to the victorious Top 14 team, we manufacture cups for amateur clubs and we created the Tour de France cycling trophy,” says boss André Sommer , a sports enthusiast (he has practiced them all, particularly cycling, at a high level) who left a career in sports marketing, at ISL and Havas, to take up the torch from Jean-Pierre Leconte in 2007 when -he had reached the end of the regulation time, in other words: retirement.
“But our activity does not stop there,” continues this friendly son of Breton oyster farmers. We strike medals for the Senate and municipalities. We make trophies for the sales teams of large companies. We engrave family silverware and all kinds of objects for passing customers. » Personalizing, by engraving, a branded lighter, a beautiful pen or a silver tumbler is a good idea for a Christmas gift.
From the outside we suspect nothing. Because the slightly outdated window (that's all its charm) doesn't look like much: only a few cups are visible to passers-by. But inside, it's an Ali Baba's cave; a maze where cups, trophies, medals and timpani are piled up. And also: machine tools operated by a handful of goldsmiths who turn, chisel, polish, adjust.
In this universe, André Sommer, it can be seen, flourishes like a passionate person. Not content with running the company, this creative person also devotes himself to artistic direction and design. So, the Equator Trophy, an eco-responsible award created for COP 21, was him. The women’s Tour of Britain cup, him again! The Solitaire du Figaro under sail, always him! So many very successful creations made with a love of beautiful work. He too, deep down, deserves a reward. The trophy creators trophy!
Maison JP Leconte
27, rue de Picardie, 75003
Tel: +01 42 78 11 18
©Axel Gyldén
Text: Axel Gyldén
25.11.21
