Marabou sculpture

Technique: sculpture, black granite

Dimensions: approx. 2 m (height of the sculpture with plinth)

Object: The granite sculpture rests on a plinth in a circular depression in the pavement set with concrete pavers. It presents a synthetic impression of a marabou. A water jet in the pavement used to direct a stream of water onto the figure. Currently, the fountain is closed and the sculpture needs to be cleaned of paint.

Place: The fountain is located at the main entrance to St. Mary’s Basilica, probably in place of a former well. Next to the fountain is tenement house no. 48/49, featuring a sgraffito by Prof. Andrzej Śramkiewicz on the façade.

Information about the author: Alfons Łosowski (04 Jan 1908–27 Jun 1988). Born in Orkiewicze in the Novogrudok region (currently in Belarus). He graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the S. Báthory University in Vilnius under the supervision of Prof. Kuna, Mikenas and Aleksandrowicz.

During the war, he was a Home Army soldier of the Vilnius district. After the war, he settled in Gdańsk. Until 1955, he was working on reconstructing sculptures as part of the Gdańsk Old Town restoration. He brought back to life sculptures decorating many façades of the most famous tenement houses, all based on modest, surviving photographic documentation. In 1955, he started independent creative work in his studio at 11/13 Mariacka Street.

He authored several outdoor sculptures within the Gdańsk area, which he donated to the city in 1966, as well as many sculptures in public buildings in Poland, in museums and private collections. Granite and wood were his primary working materials. He created a distinctive style that combined organic form with a natural stone texture.

Condition of the object: partially destroyed

Owner: city of Gdańsk

Author of the entry: Kora Kowalska