Tauzieher

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“Der Tauzieher” (The Rope Puller) by Nikolaus Friedrich, 1911
Holzmarkt, Rheinauhafen
Cologne, September 2024

“The Tauzieher (Rope puller) is a limestone sculpture by Nikolaus Friedrich which was erected in 1911 in Rheinauhafen, Cologne. It depicts a man making a heavy rope or hawser fast to a bollard and is 6.5 metres (21 feet) in height. In 1980, it was listed as one of the first heritage sites in Cologne. Nikolaus Friedrich was a German sculptor, born in Cologne and working in Charlottenburg. In the 1908 art show of the Association of Cologne Artists at the Flora und Botanischer Garten Köln, he exhibited a sculpted male figure that excited considerable admiration in art circles. A plan was devised to install a version of the work, about twice the size of the original, on an appropriate site in the city. The Cologne friends of the arts took up a collection and when the amount collected was insufficient, the city pledged the remainder. The chosen location was a vacant piece of ground next to the timber market, opposite the new harbour. Erection of the scaffolding began on 21 September 1910. The statue was unveiled on 4 March 1911. It was the first free-standing sculpture in public space in Cologne.” (Tauzieher, Wikipedia)

La rovesciata

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“La rovesciata” (The bicycle kick) by Wainer Vaccari, 2018
Corso Duomo
Modena, May 2024

“Inaugurated in September 2018, the sculpture by the Modena artist Wainer Vaccari is intended as a tribute to the Panini family, famous in the world of international publishing for the stickers in the Calciatori album, adhesive cards that have accompanied and raised an entire generation of children and young people. But, before the stickers, the Panini family and, in particular, Olga Cuoghi Panini, sold newspapers in a kiosk located exactly where the sculpture was placed. The accompanying plaque reads: ‘In this place, on 6 January 1945, Olga Cuoghi Panini and her eight children opened the doors of their newspaper kiosk, the first step in an unforgettable adventure that would bring the name of the family and of Modena to the top of world publishing with the legendary Figurine Panini’.” (A statue of the bicycle kick, Modena Today)

Europaturm

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Europaturm by Erwin Heinle, 1979
Wilhelm-Epstein-Straße
Frankfurt, September 2024

“The Europaturm (Tower of Europe) is a 337.5-metre (1,107 ft) high telecommunications tower in Frankfurt, Germany. Designed by architect Erwin Heinle, the tower's construction began in 1974. At its completion five years later, it became the tallest free-standing structure in the Federal Republic of Germany. With its height of 331 metres (1,086 ft), Europaturm became Germany's second tallest structure, after the Fernsehturm Berlin (368 metres (1,207 ft)). Even without the height of the antenna at its top, the building is over 295 metres (968 ft) high, which makes it Germany's tallest structure by roof level. Its base, at 59 metres (194 ft) thick, is the widest of any similar structure in the world. The top of the tower can turn and provides a panoramic view of the Rhine Main area. For a number of years, the upper part of the structure housed a restaurant and discothèque, but since 1999, the Europaturm has been closed to the public. In September, 2004, the antenna at the top of the tower was replaced, increasing its total height to 337.5 metres (1,107 ft). The six-ton antenna was lifted to the top in two parts by helicopter.” (Europaturm, Wikipedia)

Casa Signoretti

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Casa Signoretti
Via Roma
Reggio Emilia, May 2024

“Casa Signoretti is a historic aristocratic palace (palazzo) located in the heart of Reggio Emilia, Italy, at Via Emilio Casa Signoretti 4 (near Piazza Prampolini and the cathedral). Built in the late 18th century (around 1780–1790) in late-Baroque / early Neoclassical style. Commissioned by the noble Signoretti family, one of the oldest patrician families of Reggio Emilia. The façade is elegant but relatively sober; the real jewel is the interior, especially the grand staircase and the ballroom with magnificent frescoes and stucco work. The most famous artistic feature is the ballroom decorated around 1790–1800 by the Bolognese painter Gaetano Callani and his school, with neoclassical frescoes depicting mythological scenes and allegories.” (Casa Signoretti, Grok)

Hermes with winged helmet

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Hermes with winged helmet
Thomaskirchhof 21
Leipzig, September 2024

“The house at Thomaskirchhof 21 is a five-story building in a closed development on a rectangular site with a converted attic. The street façade, clad in natural stone, is 20 meters wide. It is designed in the Art Nouveau style and combined with elements of late historicism. The shop entrance is located in the center of the ground floor, and to the left is the house entrance with a passageway to the courtyard. The axes of the ground floor and first floor are connected by arches. From the second floor upwards, two bay windows rise, between which are loggias on two floors and an open balcony on the upper floor. At roof height, the bay windows each support a balcony. A dormer, the width of the bay windows, with a decorated triangular gable, sits on the gable roof. The triangular pediment with two projecting columns is decorated with a depiction of a ship's bow with the Goethe quotation ‘Perseverance be granted to every honest effort’ . On top is a bust of Hermes with a winged helmet , which, like the ship, symbolizes the builder's profession, trade. At the height of the first floor, the names of the architect and the builder are inscribed on the edges of the building.” (Thomaskirchhof 21, Wikipedia)

Compianto sul Cristo morto

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“Compianto sul Cristo morto” by Domenico Reti, 1680
Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi
Piazza Cavalli
Piacenza, May 2024

“The monumental plastic group was originally placed inside a fake cave against the left wall of the ambulatory; its placement in the former Chapel of S. Protaso, restored for the occasion, dates back to the autumn of 1940. Such an interesting baroque document could not escape criticism and tradition has tended to include it in the Mochi catalogue (Aurini 1927; Martinelli 1968); others have spoken of the environment of Begarelli (Collobi 1939 catalog) or of Leonardo Reti (Oretti). The definitive attribution, however, is that of E. Riccomini, who referred the group to Domenico Reti.” (Compianto sul Cristo morto, Catalogo generale dei Beni Culturali)

Café Apotheke

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Café Apotheke
Taschenberg
Dresden, September 2024

“Our antique furniture dates back to the founding period of 1771 and can look back on an exciting history. Shortly after its completion, it was installed in the Leipzig district of Gohlis and put into operation as a pharmacy – although it was considerably larger back then than it is today. The precious interior survived the Second World War almost entirely unscathed and was brought to the Hanseatic city by a Hamburg businessman in the postwar period. There, the pharmacy on Eppendorfer Straße was a well-known and popular destination for those seeking healing for over 50 years. In 2004, however, extensive renovations were underway on Eppendorfer Straße, and the pharmacy was put up for sale. Hamburg coffee king Albert Darboven acquired the historic gem through an antiques dealer to install it in his showroom on Pinkertweg in Hamburg. This was no surprise, as the health-promoting effects of coffee and chocolate have been valued for centuries. These soothing beverages were also sold as medicines in pharmacies for a long time.” (History, Café Apotheke)