Cabinetmaker's Lions and a Lion Fountain.

Today, between the showers we visited the Municipal Museum, founded in 1861, and newly reopened after being closed for four years for renovations.   Built from 1904 to 1906, it is one of the largest museums in Germany, and is a spendid place, with an entrance atrium two floors high.  It was a bit of a flying visit, as we only gave ourselves 1.5 hours to see what will take another 5 hours to view at a rough estimation.  We visited an exhibition on the ground floor of paintings, ceramics, wood  and glass designed by Walter and Thomas Dexel, artists and designers, whose  work influenced the design of household objects in the city.  This gallery led into an exhibition of old musical instruments mostly from endowments by Theodor Steinweg, including pianos, clavicords, violins, violas, a serpent, flutes, lyres and harps, to name but a few.

In the 17th/18th century there were 300 piano makers in Braunschweig, including the famous Steinweg, who later moved to America and became Steinway, and still famous for making concert grand pianos.   The Shimmel works in Braunschweig continue to make pianos, and I pass their factory every week on my way to choir. 

The lion shield above dates from 1725, and is the Cabinetmaker's Guild insignia for the City of Braunschweig.  Between the lions you can see various carpentry tools.  This shield was in a gallery devoted to furniture making in the city, and contained some wonderful cabinets, writing desks and chairs.   I need to return sometime, as I only managed a hasty visit to the ground floor and a small part of the first, and there is still all the second to visit.

This splendid lion spouts his water outside St Katherinen Church.

The lion above, which I discovered by chance when passing by on the M3 tram to Gliesmaroder,  is part of the newly installed fountain outside St Katharinen Church in Hagenmarkt Square.   "Henry the Lion" established the church in the 13th century, and like all lions in Braunschweig, he acts as a memorial to Henry  and his Queen, Matilda of England. 

At the moment there is a torrential rain storm here, the windpark has disappeared in the mist, and everything with the weather is upside down.  I need a cuppa!