Winzerin Statue

Sculpted in stone, the Winzerin stands before us. She balances a basket overflowing with grapes, a testament to the artistry of Friedrich Drake. The Winzerin Statue, originally crafted in 1834, has a rich and fascinating history. The first version, a smaller marble statuette, resides in Berlin’s Alte Nationalgalerie. Here on Bundesplatz, we see a later, larger version. Drake created this enlarged Winzerin in 1854. It was purchased from his estate by the Wilmersdorf community and placed on Kaiserplatz, now Bundesplatz, in 1910. The Winzerin Statue has witnessed the changing landscape of Berlin. Removed after World War II, she returned to her spot in 1968, but closer to the street. By 1974, experts deemed the marble too fragile for the elements. The original Winzerin was moved to the Lapidarium or possibly the Zitadelle Spandau for safekeeping. What we see today is a concrete replica, installed in 1982. Another version of the Winzerin, a large zinc casting, once graced the Tiergarten. Sadly, it was likely destroyed during World War II, leaving behind only a base and remnants of its internal iron framework. There were even discussions in 2010 of moving this concrete Winzerin Statue to Rüdesheimer Platz. But public outcry led to the rejection of the proposal in 2011. So here she remains, the Winzerin, a symbol of resilience and a tribute to the enduring power of art. A silent observer of Berlin’s vibrant story, forever offering her bounty of grapes to the sky.