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Aschaffenburger Maulaff

The Aschaffenburger Maulaff is a popular, slightly smaller-than-life oakwood figure from Aschaffenburg. It was carved in 1778 by the local sculptors Johann Ernst Hoffmann and Johann Anton Baumgärtner as part of a larger commission. The sculpture shows a peasant in late 18th-century Spessart dress, with a ship hat, green coat, red vest, short yellow leather trousers, stockings, and buckled shoes, leaning on a long staff and opening his mouth wide. Originally made for amusement in the Schönbusch park, it later changed owners several times before being given to the museum of Aschaffenburg by the city-born senior regional court councillor Sohn. It is now exhibited in Schlossmuseum Aschaffenburg and is considered one of the city’s landmarks.

Aschaffenburger Maulaff, a painted wooden figure in a green coat and dark cap, leaning on a staff with its mouth open.
The Aschaffenburger Maulaff sculpture in Park Schönbusch, shown as a painted wooden figure with an open mouth and staff.
June 2009 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Aschaffenburger Maulaff sculpture of a man in a tricorne hat and green coat with mouth open.
The Aschaffenburger Maulaff, a brightly painted wooden figure with a tricorne hat and open mouth.
June 2009 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Aschaffenburger Maulaff sculpture of a painted man in a dark green coat and black hat, holding a walking stick.
The Aschaffenburger Maulaff stands on a base in profile, wearing a dark green coat and black hat.
June 2009 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Aschaffenburger Maulaff painted wooden bust with a dark cap, green jacket, and open mouth
The Aschaffenburger Maulaff, a painted wooden figure from Schönbusch Park, shown in close-up.
© · CC BY 3.0
The Aschaffenburger Maulaff restaurant with outdoor seating on a cobblestone square.
The Aschaffenburger Maulaff building with outdoor tables in a cobblestone square.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification

Typefigure
TitleAschaffenburger Maulaff

Historical context

Date created1778
Functionused for amusement of the electoral court society in Schönbusch Park, Aschaffenburg

Creator

SculptorsJohann Ernst Hoffmann and Johann Anton Baumgärtner
Sculptors' originlocal sculptors from Aschaffenburg

Discovery and provenance

Later ownerCarl Constantin Victor Freiherr von Mergenbaum, owner of Nilkheimer Hof
Commissionpart of a larger commission
Donation to museumbefore the First World War he gave the figure to the museum of his hometown
Later ownera son born in Aschaffenburg who was a judge at the Higher Regional Court
Later ownerKlement Kitz, master tanner from Löhergraben in Aschaffenburg
Reason for relocationhe was disturbed by staring passers-by and moved it there to scare them away

Materials

Materialoak wood

Technique

Techniquecarved wood

Physical characteristics

Sizeslightly smaller than life-size

Iconography and meaning

Associated gamea target game in which a quasi-billiard ball was thrown into the open mouth and, if successful, rolled out through a tube at the back
Depicted figurea caricatured Spessart farmer

Appearance

Clothinglate 18th-century Spessart costume: sailor hat, green jacket, red waistcoat, short yellow leather breeches, stockings, and buckle shoes
Poserests his hands on a long stick with his mouth wide open

Location and ownership

Name during Mergenbaum ownership"Nilkheimer Maulaff"
Location under Mergenbaumnext to the window by his desk and office on the ground floor of his house on Großostheimer Straße
Original locationa meadow in the "Valley of Games" in Schönbusch Park
Location under Kitzsmall park in front of Sandtor
Later locationfor many years on the vineyard of Frau Kitz in Löhergraben
Current locationSchlossmuseum Aschaffenburg
Current nameknown there as the "Gaffer" Maulaff

Significance

Current significanceconsidered one of the landmarks and symbols of Aschaffenburg
Heritage statusone of the 100 Heritage Treasures of Bavaria since 2018