Gänsereiterbrunnen, Essen (Goose rider fountain, Essen), 1913, by William F. C. Ohly

130.0020

Gänsereiterbrunnen, Essen (Goose rider fountain, Essen), 1913, by William F. C. Ohly

1913

William F. C. Ohly (1883–1955)

physical object

stone fountain (formerly with bronze element, which was destroyed in WW2)

German Wikipedia entry for Gänsereiterbrunnen, Bonner Strasse, Frohnhausen, Essen, Germany

Fountain with spherical stone element, surrounded by four dolphins from whose mouths water spills into an upper bowl that in turn connects with a lower bowl below. A series of small Art Nouveau masks adorn the lower bowl.

Fountains -- Germany.

© Estate of William Ohly. This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Jane Eckett

Bonner Strasse, Frohnhausen, Essen, Germany

Robert Wezel, 'Wie Frohnhausen zum Gänsereiter kam. Ästhetische Gesichtspunkte der Essener Stadtplanung am Beispiel eines Brunnens' (How Frohnhausen came to be a goose rider. Aesthetic aspects of Essen city planning using the example of a fountain'), in Essener Beiträge, Beiträge zur Geschichte von Stadt und Stift Essen, Band 115 (Essen contributions, contributions to the history of the city and monastery of Essen, vol. 115), 2003

Designed by the Hagen architect Ewald Wachenfeld with sculptor William Ohly in a late late Art Nouveau style. The fountain originally had a central bronze element by Ohly: a sculpture of a rider reaching for a goose. The practice of goose riding was practiced in Frohnhausen until the end of the 19th century. However, the bronze element has been missing since WW2, when the fountain was buried under rubble from the nearby Apostles Church. Located in the square behind the Apostles Church, Essen, surrounded by benches and linden trees. The cost of the Gänsereiter fountain was shared between the Essen Beautification Association and the city of Essen, which is still the owner today. The fountain was fully restored in 2008–2010, with the dolphins heads replaced as they were so severely damaged from environmental impacts.

07 December 2023