Broken Jug

Broken Jug is a monumental sculpture by internationally renowned American artist Frank Stella, positioned at the entrance to the historic port city of Harlingen. Originally created for a project in Miami, the work was fabricated in Cherbourg, France, but ultimately found a permanent home in the Netherlands. Standing approximately 14 meters tall and weighing around 45 tons, the sculpture is one of the largest public artworks in the country.

Its expressive abstract form shifts continuously as viewers move around it, giving the piece a different presence from every angle. A lighting concept by Atelier LEK adds another dimension after dark, with illumination inspired by the movement of the tides and the maritime character of Harlingen.

CIG, together with Frank Stella, took the initiative to bring Broken Jug to Harlingen and was responsible for the transport from Cherbourg, including transport engineering and logistics. In collaboration with Joop Mulder of Sense of Place, the Municipality of Harlingen, and KTF Cranes, the 45-ton sculpture was successfully installed at its permanent location.

Partial image credit: Edwin Kooren