Five musk oxen stand before you. This is the Moschusochsenherde statue. Don’t they look majestic?
Created by Wilhelm L\u00f6ber between 1961 and 1963 this artwork initially stood unnoticed in Rostock Zoo. Heinrich Dathe the then director of Berlin’s Tierpark Friedrichsfelde saw it. He recognized its artistic merit. He acquired a second version for the Tierpark.
In 1963 the Moschusochsenherde found its permanent home. It stands near a crossroads of a promenade path. Not far from Friedrichsfelde Palace. It wasn’t just placed there arbitrarily. Dathe had a vision. He envisioned the artwork as a prescient monument. The Tierpark didn’t even have musk oxen yet. The first calves arrived from Canada only in 1966.
The statue is made of a special material. Dathe and Enrico Matthies called it Klinkermaterial. A brown glazed ceramic. The horns are bronzed. From afar it looks like a bronze casting. The clever placement of the five animals is also noteworthy. You only see three at first. The other two are subtly hidden behind. A water moat surrounds the statue. It protects the delicate ceramic from damage.
This Moschusochsenherde statue isn’t just a sculpture. It’s a testament to foresight. It’s a piece of Berlin’s history. It combines art and nature. It’s a subtle and beautiful artwork you wouldn’t expect. It beautifully reflects the Tierpark’s early years. It’s a story about vision and planning. A small detail with a larger meaning. Take a moment to appreciate it. Enjoy the artistic genius of Wilhelm L\u00f6ber. His work stands as a symbol of Berlin’s enduring connection to nature.