Have you ever seen a bear playing ball? Right here in Berlin, you can. This is the Bär mit Ball Sculpture. It is a charming piece of art that brings joy to this play area.
The Bär mit Ball Sculpture features a bear made of light artificial stone. The bear stands tall on the Traberweg playground. You will find it directly across from Üderseestraße. The bear is standing. It holds a ball under its body with its right paw. Its snout is raised. Its mouth seems to be open in a smile.
The sculpture’s plinth is set into the ground. This makes the Bär mit Ball Sculpture perfect for climbing. It is a playful addition to the playground.
Let’s dive into the history of this delightful sculpture. The green space and playground at Traber Weg were created from 1958. The exact date when the bear was placed here is unknown. Similar bears have been dated to 1972. It’s possible that this bear was also installed around that time.
We do know that the Kunststeinbär has been on the playground in Traberstraße since at least 1980. A 1993 inspection noted some damage. Parts of the snout and ears were chipped off. There were cracks and paint smears. The smears were removed. However the damage to the snout and ears remains. A crack on the bear’s back is also still present.
Interestingly there are at least two other versions of the Bär mit Ball Sculpture in Berlin. One is in excellent condition. It is located in Alt-Treptow. You’ll find it at Puschkinallee 10-12 in the garden of the Fröbel-Kita. This bear is attributed to the collective Poertzel, Wurzer, Hertram. It is also dated to 1972. The Kita in Treptow originally had seven animal figures made by the same collective. Sadly two were lost by 1993.
A third white Kunststein Bär mit Ball Sculpture from the same collective stood in a kindergarten garden. This was located on Hoffmannstraße 12 in Berlin-Treptow. It was also dated to 1972.
There is some debate about the sculpture’s origins. The collective Poertzel, Wurzer, Hertram could not have created the bears in 1972. Professor Hermann Hugo Otto Poertzel died in 1962. The artist Hertram cannot be verified. It is most likely that Erich Wurzer created the Bär mit Ball Sculpture. He was a sculptor from Suhl who created fun animal figures.
The Bär mit Ball Sculpture stands as a testament to playful art. It also shows Berlin’s commitment to providing joyful spaces for children. Take a closer look at the bear. Notice its charming smile. Imagine children climbing and playing around it. This sculpture brings smiles to this Berlin playground. It connects us to the city’s artistic past.