It is literally the greatest treasure in the holdings of the Wien Museum: the so-called Praterwal. On Tuesday, the ten-meter-long, 1.7-ton monster was lifted by crane into the building on Karlsplatz, which is currently being renovated – before the entrances become narrower after the completion of the construction work in 2023. The grumpy-looking animal from 1951 was the landmark of the 18th-century “Gasthaus zum Whale” in the Prater until 2013.
In the Wurstelprater, the advertising figure designed by Maria Benke from wood and sheet copper not only impressed with its sheer size, but also had eyes that glowed blue in the dark and the ability to occasionally blow a water fountain into the air. After the demolition of the old inn, the whale Finally, via detours, it was donated to the Wien Museum in 2016 and has since been restored in the museum depot in Himberg, Lower Austria. After all, years above the portal to the inn and penetrating moisture had bothered the sea creature.
After the reopening of the Wien Museum, the whale then be on display as one of the large objects in the new hall. The marine mammal will be a highlight of the new permanent exhibition here in intimate company with the original figures of the Donnerbrunnen, the mayor’s gala carriage or the lettering of the old Südbahnhof.
Source: Nachrichten
