Was it fate, or just chance, that led to the rediscovery of the Weisse Stier? This sculpture stands as a testament to Berlin’s tumultuous history. The Stierskulptur, or White Bull, was created between 1897 and 1900 by Ernst Moritz Geyger.
In 1902, during the Kaiser era, the White Bull found its home in Volkspark Humboldthain. It became a beloved meeting spot especially for couples. Imagine the bull standing proudly on a small hill overlooking a pond.
But the story doesn’t end there. The sculpture vanished during World War II and was believed to have been melted down. For years, the White Bull was only a memory.
In 2022, the Berliner Unterwelten team searched for the Stierskulptur. They obtained a permit and conducted geophysical investigations. The team found promising signals in the ground. Excavations uncovered the base and torso of the artwork along with fragments of the legs and ears.
The White Bull was found not far from the surface. This discovery sparked media interest with some outlets mistakenly calling Geyger a Hitler sculptor. This claim is false.
Geyger, born in 1861, was not associated with Nazi sculptors. He gained recognition long before Hitler’s rise to power. The Stierskulptur was erected in 1902 when Hitler was only 13 years old.
Restoring the original Stierskulptur fully proved impossible. The fragments were too weathered and heavy. Instead, the torso, head, and base were scanned.
The goal is to create a replica for the original location. Today, the original fragments are displayed at the Archäologisches Fenster. They rest on a metal support structure protected from the elements. The unique fragments of the Stierskulptur have found their final exhibition location.
The White Bull’s journey from creation to rediscovery speaks volumes about Berlin. It embodies resilience, artistic legacy, and historical mysteries. The Stierskulptur remains a symbol of the city’s enduring spirit.