Metta “Mudder” Cordes: a name whispered with respect and affection in Bremen. Here at the Mudder Cordes Sculpture, we encounter not just bronze and stone, but the indomitable spirit of a woman who defied hardship. The Mudder Cordes Sculpture, created by Christa Baumgärtel in 1987, depicts Metta with her loyal donkey, Anton. It stands as a testament to her resilience and resourcefulness. Mudder Cordes, born Metta Behrens in 1815, faced immense challenges. After her husband’s death in 1860, she was left with five children and no means of support. Imagine the weight of that responsibility in a time with no social safety net. She placed four children in an orphanage, keeping her youngest son, Georg Arnold, with her. To survive, Mudder Cordes started a mobile greengrocer business. She initially pulled the cart herself through Bremen’s Neustadt, selling fruits and vegetables. A kind stranger, seeing her struggle, gifted her a dog named Sultan to pull the cart. This act of generosity changed everything. Sultan, Bremen’s first “dog-powered” cart, became a local sensation, boosting her business. When Sultan died in 1866, members of a local burial society gifted her a donkey, Anton. Anton became her new partner, pulling her larger cart for nearly thirty years. The Mudder Cordes Sculpture captures this enduring partnership, a symbol of her perseverance. Metta Cordes’ story is more than just a tale of survival. It’s a story about the kindness of strangers, the strength of community, and the unwavering spirit of a woman determined to provide for her family. The Mudder Cordes Sculpture reminds us that even in the face of adversity, hope and resilience can prevail.
Getreideverkehrsanlage, Silo I
What if these walls could talk? Here at the Getreideverkehrsanlage, Silo I, they’d whisper tales of a Bremen brimming with