Monument to Antoni Cierplikowski in Sieradz Market Square

The monument to Antoni Cierplikowski stands in Sieradz Market Square and depicts the most famous person from Sieradz in the world of hairdressing, seated in a chair with a mirror in his hand. It is an interactive sculpture: any passer-by can sit down next to him on a second chair.

Who was Antoine de Paris

Antoni Cierplikowski was born in Sieradz in December 1884 and made his career in Paris under the pseudonym Antoine de Paris. In 1901 he left for France, where he spent the early years of his hairdressing career in a basement, plaiting wigs from natural hair.

In 1905 he travelled to London for a time to learn English, and in 1909 he married Marie-Berthe Astier. Over time he became one of the most recognised hairdressers of his era.

Hairstyles for stars and the bob trend

Antoine cut the hair of Josephine Baker, Édith Piaf and Brigitte Bardot, among others. In the 1920s he popularised the short bob hairstyle, transforming hair cutting into a form of decorative art that went beyond the craft itself.

Thanks to such clients, the name of the boy from Sieradz appeared in the pages of Parisian newspapers, and his hair salons became a place where fashions were set for the entire season, not just for one evening.

Monument in the market square

The sculpture was unveiled in 2015, and its creator is Sławomir Micek from Kielce. It depicts Antoine seated in a barber's chair, with a mirror in his hand, facing towards a second, empty seat where a visitor can sit down.

The monument stands in Sieradz Market Square, the main square of the Old Town, so it is easy to combine viewing it with a walk around the neighbouring townhouses.

Nearby it is also worth seeing Sieradz Cathedral and the municipal museum.

Festival linked to the figure

The figure of Antoine is also commemorated by the annual Openair Hair Festival, a festival linked to his hairdressing legacy. The event confirms that for Sieradz it is both a monument and a permanent element of the city's local identity.

The chair in the market square has become one of the most frequently photographed places in the city, as few cities in Poland can show a native son who taught hairdressing to Parisian salons.

Practical information

• Address: Rynek, 98-200 Sieradz
• Getting there: on foot from the city centre, parking near the market square
• What to expect: sculpture accessible round the clock and free of charge, with a free seat next to Antoine for a photograph