Statues - Hither & Thither

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Hildesheim
Lkr. Hildesheim
Niedersachsen

Neustädter Markt

Katzenbrunnen

Cats Fountain

Ferdinand Seeboeck & Erich Jaekel
1913 (and replica 1976)

Description

Fountain consisting of a basin made of dolomite, in the center of which stands a bronze figure of a night watchman with a spear and lantern on a pillar, which is spat on by four stone cats sitting on outriggers of the pillar. The fountain symbolizes the old Hildesheim legend of the 'witches as cats'.
In the Second World War, Seeboeck's bronze night watch and other metal parts were melted. A draft for the redesign by Hermann Scheuernstuhl could not be accepted by the citizens. In 1975 the Hildesheim Rotary Club financed the repairs to the fountain along with the pillar and cats, and donated in 1976 a replica of the night watchman statue, which was made by Erich Jaekel.

Hildesheim - Katzenbrunnen

Information Sign

dieser katzenbrunnen
- im 2. weltkrieg zerstört -
wurde im juni 1976 durch
den rotary-club
hildesheim erneuert

This cats fountain
- destroyed in the 2nd world war -
was renewed in June 1976
by the Hildesheim
Rotary Club

Sculptors

Erich Jaekel (Glogau [Glogow] 1903 - 1978), German sculptor.
Ferdinand Seeboeck (Wien 1864 - Roma 1952), Austrian sculptor (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

Kulturium, Kunst im öffentlichen Raum in Hildesheim seit 1970 (Brunnen no. 2) (PDF online).
Wikipedia, Katzenbrunnen (Hildesheim).
Hildesheimer Geschichte(n), Katzenbrunnen der Neustadt.

Locatie (N 52°8'53" - E 9°57'16") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: dens540; Photograph: 29 August 2022
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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