Statues - Hither & Thither

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Trier
Stadt Trier
Rheinland-Pfalz

Willy-Brandt-Platz

Wasseruhrbrunnen

Water Clock Fountain

Karl Jakob Schwalbach
1984

Description

Fountain in the form of an oversized sundial, also called water clock. The diameter is 12 meter (c. 40 ft), the column has a height of 12.60 m (ca. 42 ft). The alignment of the fountain in the north-south direction corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the basilica and is repeated in the transverse axis of the basilica apse. The two-tier fountain floor reminiscent of soil and rock layers and thereby provides a historical reference to the amphitheater in Trier. The animal figures on the low pillars indicating the hours symbolize five historical periods Trier's to the present:

Trier - Wasseruhrbrunnen

VIII: Horse, the Treveri, a nation of horsemen,
X: Eagle with fasces, the Roman period,
XII: Lamb with crosier and sword, the spiritual and temporal power of the medieval prince bishops,
XIV: Dog, the Prussian era,
XVI: Dove, a peace sign for the present.

The fountain is also a drinking water source. On the faucet the word 'Drinking Water' is written in eight languages:

aqua potabilis
TRINK-
WASSER
Acqua potabile
eau potable
(japanese)
питьевая вода
pitna voda
drinking water
agua potable

Under the drinking water faucet is a bronze plaques with the names of famous sculptors and architects from 2000 years of history of Trier.

Baumeister und Bildhauer,
die in Trier wirkten.

Baumeister:
Meister Bernhard · Meister Jodokus ·
Georg Ridinger · Albrecht Bayer · Matthias Staudt ·
Joh. Georg Judas · Josef Walter ·
Joh. Balthasar Neumann · Christian Kretschmar ·
Joh. Valentin Thormann · Johannes Seiz ·
Joh. Anton Neurohr · Francois J. Mangin · Joh. Georg Wolff · August Stüler ·
Wilhelm Schmitz · Heinrich Tessenow ·
Balduin Schilling ·

Bildhauer:
Meister der Reimser Schule
Meister der Burgundisch-Lothringischen Schule ·
Nikolaus und Johannes Binchen · Nikolaus Cerhaert von
Leyden · Meister Hieronymus und Sohn Hans ·
Hans Byldthauwer · Hans Rupprecht Hoffmann ·
Jakob Kerre · Joh. Wolfgang Fröhlicher ·
Joh. Mauritz Groninger · Joh. Wolfgang von der
Auwera · Johannes Grauer ·
Ferdinand Tietz · Johannes Neudecker
der jüngere · Jean Baptiste
Sinar ·

Information Sign

Dieser Brunnen ist das Geschenk des Landes Rheinland-Pfalz
an Deutschlands älteste Stadt, Das Zweitausendjährige Trier
anno domini mcmlxxxiv
Säulenschätten und Wasserqualler zeigen die Zeit und erinnern an
Vergänglichkeit und Wiederkehr.
Die Tiere aus Bronze stellen wichtige Geschichtsepochen Triers dar.
Das Pferd symbolisiert die keltische, der Adler die römische,
das Lamm die kurfürstliche, das Windspiel die preussische und die Taube
die heirige Zeit. Das Werk wurde geschaffen von karl jakob schwalbach.

Annotation

It was donated to the 2000-year celebration of the city of Trier by the government of Rheinland-Pfalz. It is located on the place of the former Lower castle, which was destroyed by bombs during World War II. The State Building Authority of Trier had at the invitation of the competition concrete ideas about the artistic and architectural implementation of the redesign of the square. The fountain should achieve the most effective relationship with the neighboring city spaces, particularly the Konstantinplatz. It also should have a reference to the historic buildings on the square and the history of Trier. Also in demand were a vivid effect of the well and the visually impressive performance of the water as a living element.
The result met the requirements and expectations of the client fully.

Due to the different local origin of the rocks - the fountain of Bayerwald granite, the column of pink Karkonosze granite (Czech Republic), the granite paving from Portugal and the square ornaments of red Vosges granite slabs (France) - the artist , almost inadvertently, created a European place.

Sculptor

Karl Jakob Schwalbach (Frankfurt 1937), German sculptor in Valley

Sources & Information

Datenbank der Kulturgüter in der Region Trier, Alle Kulturgüter in Altstadt, Gemeinde Trier.

Locatie (N 49°45'13" - E 6°38'39") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: derp063; Photograph: 17 June 2011
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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