Deutscher Reiter von Sudwest, by Carl Mobius (1876-1953)

Bronze on marble plinth

Carl Mobius (1876-1953)

Mobius trained at the Kunstgewebeschule in Dresden and the Berliner Academie. His most famous work, the larger than life bronze javelin thrower for the Kaiserallee in Berlin, was melted down in 1944 for the war effort. In 1909 he and four other sculptors were invited to submit designs for a war memorial at Windhoek, Namibia, by the high command of the Protection Force for South West Africa. Adolfe Kurle won the competition, but Mobius made his mark with the present figure which was traditionally presented to German officers on completion of their colonial secondment.