Grey heron, Bronze sculpture in Mitte, Germany.

The Grey Heron is a bronze sculpture located in Mitte that depicts a water bird standing in naturalistic form. The work captures anatomical details through careful bronze casting and surface treatment.

Ruth Meisner, who had moved to Hanover only in 1932, made the sculpture for the Maschseequelle, inaugurated in November 1935 on the south-west shore of the newly built Maschsee. Unlike Oskar Winter's figure at the Holzmarktbrunnen, it was not melted down for war purposes; it was stolen in 1950 instead. Recalled and recast, it was installed in the Stadtpark for the Bundesgartenschau 1951, first in the long basin built in 1913/14, later moved to the nearby shrub beds.

The sculpture group was made for the Maschseequelle fountain, inaugurated in November 1935 on the lake's south-west shore. After being stolen in 1950 it was recast and set up for the 1951 Bundesgartenschau in the Stadtpark, where it stands near the bushes today.

The sculpture stands in an outdoor location and is accessible at any time, though bronze exposed to weather develops a natural patina over time. Visiting in clear daylight helps you see the surface details most clearly.

The sculpture was not melted down for armaments during the Second World War, unlike Oskar Winter's figure at the Holzmarktbrunnen fountain. Instead it was stolen in 1950, then recast and placed in the Stadtpark for the 1951 Bundesgartenschau.