Dragonfly Fountain (Stuttgart)

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Dragonfly Fountain, 2008.

The Libellenbrunnen (also Faunbrunnen or Relenbergbrunnen ) is a fountain on Herdweg in Stuttgart-Nord . It was designed in 1904 by Emil Kiemlen , Wilhelm Scholter and Kurt Fanghänel in the Art Nouveau style.

history

The dragonfly fountain was built in 1904 on the site of an old cattle trough in Stuttgart-Nord on Herdweg (at the confluence with Relenbergstrasse). The bronze figures of the faun's head and the dragonfly were modeled by the sculptor Emil Kiemlen , the limestone fountain bowl was created by the sculptor Kurt Fanghänel, the architect Wilhelm Scholter was responsible for the architectural design of the fountain, and the art mold caster Paul Stotz was commissioned to cast the bronze figures .

During the Second World War in 1943, the bronze fountain sculptures were melted down for armament purposes. After the war, the faun mask was first restored in 1950, and later the dragonfly figure, the mold of which had been preserved at the Strassacker art foundry in Süßen .

description

The fountain is made of French limestone . The two basins and a stele towering between them are slightly elevated and can be reached via three granite steps . The bronze mask of a thick-cheeked faun with goat ears , who rolls his eyes towards his right ear, is embedded in the front of the stele . Above him is the stele leaning personalized dragonfly (an also bronze figure of a girl with dragonfly wings) that the Faun with the stalk of a pipe piston tickles the ear. The faun also serves as a gargoyle , because two jets of water spring from the corners of its mouth.

A 1904 magazine article about the fountain states:

"The whole thing forms an unbelievably seeming genre picture full of humor and a fresh zest for life."

  • Dragonfly Fountain, 1904

  • Faun Mask, 2008

  • Dragonfly figure, 2008

symbolism

Both the faun mask and the dragonfly figure of the fountain can be interpreted as symbols of fertility and thus form a reference to the cattle trough that was once at this point. In Roman mythology, fauns are considered to be protectors of farmers and shepherds, as well as of fields and cattle. Dragonflies, in turn, are assigned to the fertility goddess Freya in Germanic mythology . Last but not least, the shape of the two fountain basins also indicates the earlier cattle trough.

literature

  • A new fountain in Stuttgart. In: The month , octave edition of Über Land und Meer, 3rd year 1903/1904, page 308. ( pdf )
  • Gustav Wais: Stuttgart's art and cultural monuments. 25 pictures with city history, architectural history and art history explanations. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 1954, page 66.
  • Inge Petzold (author), Christel Danzer (photographer): Water for utility and ornament. Stuttgart fountain and water features. Motives, design, history, fortunes. Stuttgart 1989, pages 46-47.

Web links

Commons : Libellenbrunnen (Stuttgart)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Stone sculptor Kurt Fanghänel according to various address book volumes and according to Nekrolog in Chronik der Stadt Stuttgart, Volume 50 (1990) , cf. also Städtisches Lapidarium Stuttgart
  2. ↑ #Month 1904 .

Coordinates: 48 ° 47 '12.52 "  N , 9 ° 9' 43.62"  E