Eseltreiber, Bronze sculpture in Osterode am Harz, Germany
The Eseltreiber is a bronze sculpture in Osterode am Harz showing a merchant figure alongside a pack donkey loaded with a grain sack. The work sits in the pedestrian zone near the former town hall, functioning as a central landmark in the town.
Sculptor Helmut Moos created the work in 1988 as a tribute to grain traders who traveled mountain routes for centuries using pack animals. These trading networks sustained the economies of remote Harz settlements.
The bronze figure honors grain merchants who traveled with pack donkeys, serving as vital links between lowland traders and remote mountain communities in the Harz region.
The sculpture sits in a flat, walkable pedestrian zone near the old town hall and is easy to locate from any part of town. The spot offers good access and remains open throughout the year without restrictions.
The donkey's ears have become polished and shiny over time from countless visitors touching them for good fortune. This tactile interaction reveals how public art evolves through human contact.
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