Sandalenbinderin Sculpture

Beneath the gentle sway of the trees near the Schwanenspiegel, the Sandalenbinderin pauses, her bronze form caught in a moment of quiet contemplation. The Sandalenbinderin, a sculpture by August Kraus, has graced Dusseldorf since 1961. But her journey here was a long and winding one. Cast in 1901, the sculpture was originally a gift to the city’s collection from the industrialist Franz Haniel in 1908. She resided in the Kunstmuseum until 1932, then enjoyed some fresh air in the Rheinpark. Later, she moved to the Nordpark, just east of the Schnellenburg. The Sandalenbinderin even survived World War II, escaping the fate of being melted down for the war effort. After the war, she was hidden away to protect her from bronze thieves. The Sandalenbinderin eventually reappeared, gracing the gardens south of the Rheinterrasse. Her stay there ended in 1960, when she had to make way for Bernhard Sopher’s “Knöchelspielerin”. Finally, on September 27, 1961, she found her current home here, near the Schwanenspiegel, atop a pedestal of Franconian shell limestone. The Sandalenbinderin has witnessed a lot in her time here. She has been vandalized and restored multiple times, a testament to her enduring presence in the city. Look closely at her sandals. They’re Roman or gladiator style, a fashionable choice even today. The Sandalenbinderin, a silent observer of Düsseldorf’s history, reminds us that even in a bustling city, moments of quiet reflection can be found.