The Cologne Fountains were responsible for the water supply of the city from the Roman beginnings of the Roman colony until the end of the 19th century.
In 1872 the first waterworks was put into operation. Since then, the fountains are rather decorative buildings of the individual districts.
The drinking water well “An der Eiche” was designed by the artist Jürgen Schreiber (alias Gorgonzola) in 1979.
Jürgen Schreiber alias Gorgonzola (1937 -2012), painter and sculptor, studied at the Cologne Schools of Work with Friedrich Vordemberge, Otto Gerster and Joseph Jaekel, lived and worked in Cologne since 1954. In 2010 he was honored with the Severinsbürgerpreis.
He understood his art like the Dutch Renaissance painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder: “closer to life”. In his works, Schreiber made life in the city of Cologne, in his neighbourhood (the Südstadt) a topic and motif. He also designed one of the figures on the Town Hall Tower (Nikolaus Gülich).
The fountain is designed as a small cobbled hill and is reminiscent of a small branch with two acorns that seems to have fallen directly from the tree. The artist sees his sculpture as an allusion to the female breast as a life-giving source.
But there is also a connection to the location. In the past, there was an Eichamt where the weights and measurements were weighed.
However, the well cannot always bubble, it is dependent on the support of the citizens.
If you want to actively support the operation of one or more wells, you will receive information on possible sponsorship contributions on request from the City of Cologne.
Sources:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6lner_Brunnen http://www.tenri-kw.de/austellung-vom-leben-eine-retrospektive-auf-das-werk-von-juergen-schreiber-alias-gorgonzola-1937-2012-zum-80-geburtstag/ www.ksta.de/anonym-raetsel-um-den-suedstadt-brunnen-12710476