Saxoniabrunnen

The Saxoniabrunnen stands on Johannisplatz in Chemnitz, Saxony. It is a restored fountain that once graced the Roßmarkt. The original base and upper section remain, while new bronze figures have replaced those lost in the Second World War. The fountain is worth visiting because it shows how a community brought back a historic monument. The Chemnitz Beautification Association commissioned the work in the 19th century with help from Dresden’s Academic Council and the state art fund. Its figures once symbolised Saxony’s industry: Saxonia as protector of trade, a spinner for textiles, and a smith for engineering. After the war, the bronze parts were melted down and only the granite parts survived. In 2011 an investor paid for the restoration, and two Polish artists recreated the lost figures from old photographs. Visitors find a single-step granite base topped by the upper section. The new Saxonia is smaller and simpler than the original, missing the large Saxon coat of arms. The side figures of the spinner and smith stand as before, and the fountain’s red Swedish granite and Finnish Balmoral Red slab are clearly visible. The absence of the old fence lets people approach closely and see the details.