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Guarding Lion in Gliwice

Guarding Lion in Gliwice is a cast iron sculpture created in 1824 at the Royal Prussian Iron Foundry in Gliwice. It was designed by Christian Daniel Rauch, together with the sleeping lion, and made by Theodor Kalide in cooperation with Rauch. The sculpture shows a reclining lion with its head raised. Since 1934, it has stood in front of Villa Caro on Niederwallstraße (ul. Dolnych Wałów). Before that, it was located on the foundry grounds at the stairway of a building. Gliwice also has two reclining lions and formerly a sleeping lion.

Guarding Lion sculpture on a concrete pedestal in front of an ornate fence and brick pillar.
The Guarding Lion sculpture stands on a pedestal before an ornate fence and brick pillar in Gliwice.
September 2011 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Guarding Lion statue of a resting lion on a light-colored plinth in front of an ornate metal fence and building facade.
Guarding Lion statue resting on a plinth beside an ornate fence and building facade.
April 2013 © · CC BY-SA 3.0 pl
Guarding Lion sculpture on a light-colored pedestal beside an iron fence and brick wall, with a museum building in the background.
The Guarding Lion stands on a pedestal outside the museum building.
September 2014 © · CC BY-SA 3.0 pl
Dark metal guarding lion sculpture on a light stone pedestal outside a fenced building.
The Guarding Lion sculpture stands on a stone pedestal in front of a large building.
September 2014 © · CC BY-SA 3.0 pl
Guarding Lion sculpture on a concrete pedestal beside a decorative fence and brick column.
The Guarding Lion sculpture stands on a concrete pedestal near a decorative fence and brick column.
September 2011 © · CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification

TitleGuarding Lion in Gliwice
Original titleDer Wachende Löwe
Typesculpture

Historical context

Date cast1824

Creator

DesignerTheodor Kalide
Workshop / foundryProfessor Christian Daniel Rauch's workshop in Berlin; cast at the Royal Prussian Iron Foundry in Gleiwitz (Gliwice Ironworks / Huta Gliwice)
AttributionAlthough Rauch was listed as sculptor as workshop owner, Kalide's contribution to the execution was very large, possibly greater than Rauch's; later casts were signed by Kalide after he left Rauch's workshop in 1830

Discovery and provenance

Based onA lion statue erected on 15 May 1822 in Starościńskie Rocks, now above Lake Złotnickie near Leśna
Part of a seriesOne of several cast-iron casts made after a design by Theodor Kalide from Rauch's workshop in Berlin

Location and ownership

Current locationIn front of Villa Caro, Gliwice (Gleiwitz), Poland
Original locationIn front of one of the administrative buildings of Gliwice Ironworks (now GZUT), on the grounds of the iron foundry, at the staircase of a building
RelocationMoved to the area near Villa Caro in 1934

Physical characteristics

MaterialCast iron

Appearance

DepictionA reclining lion with its head raised

Other

Related worksThe two Reclining Lions and, formerly, a Sleeping Lion; designed together with the Sleeping Lion