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This is my Saint Gallen
  • About
  • Pocket Guide
  • Saint Gallen
    • Cafés & Restaurant
    • Museums & Ateliers
    • Oriels
    • Shops
    • Sightseeing
    • Tips
    • Nice to know
    • we are Saint Gallen
  • Welt
    • Australien
    • Bruessel
    • Fiji | Fidschi
    • Indonesien
    • Japan
    • Minsk
    • Neuseeland
    • New York
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    • Prag
    • Schottland
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  • Oriels

«Greiferker» 1675

  • 14. November 2019
  • 1.8K views
  • Clarissa Schwarz

»» Gallusstrasse 22

Today I like to explain you my favorite oriel! It’s the «Greiferker» on the Gallusstrasse 22. It was built in 1675 by Jacob Christoph Stauder (1641 – 1709). The then owner, his name was Caspar Mennhard (1621–1684) was a very rich man! It is a richly carved oriel window made of oak and linden wood.

A Griffen (German: Greif) is a Mesopotamian mythical creature that has a lion’s body, an eagle’s head and wings, and sometimes the tail of a snake. Because the name of the oriel dates back to 1678 – 3 years later after the oriel was built, there is no griffen shown. But in the year 1943 the painter Willi Koch, painted the picture next to it on the wall. There you can finally see a griffen with gold – because a griffen is a guardian of the gold. As to the gold which the griffins dig up, there are rocks which are spotted with drops of gold as with sparks, which this creature can quarry because of the strength of its beak.

The iconography of this Oriel window is quite religious and dedicated to the old testament. In some kind the pictures are like the copper engravings in the Bible from Matthäus Merian (1593-1650). Between these beautiful carvings you can see lions and female figures as well a lot of acanthus leaves. On top you can see winged love gods in child shape play the trumpet.

On the left side is a Relief that invokes the first book of Moses. The fight between Jacob and God. Jacob fought the whole night with an unknown person. At dawn, he revealed himself as God and blessed Jacob. The man said,«Your name will no longer be Jacob. You have wrestled with God and with men, and you have won. That’s why your name will be Israel.»

(1. Mose 32,24-28 EU. The same you’ll find on this Oriel.

On the left side in the front you see Elija sitting by the brook Kerit. (1 Kön 17,1-6 EU). Two raves bring him bread and meat.





On the right side in the front you see the instruction of Jonah (Jona 4,5-6 EU). Jonah sits under the foliage.

Jonah then left through the east gate of the city and made a shelter to protect himself from the sun. He sat under the shelter, waiting to see what would happen to Nineveh.


And on the right site it is Tobias traveling (Tobit 5, 17, 6, 2-6 EU).

«Tobias gains wisdom, valuable experiences, and a bride along the way, thanks to Raphael. Ever since he accompanied Tobias on his journey, archangel Raphael has been a patron saint of travelers.»




Greiferker

Der Greiferker (1675) am spätmittel-alterlichen «Haus zum Greif» ist ein reich geschnitzter Erker aus Eichen- und Lindenholz. Der damalige Besitzer, Caspar Mennhard, war ein wohlhabender Mann. Die umrahmten Brüstungsfelder tragen Reliefs mit biblischen Darstellungen nach den Vorlagen von Matthäus Merian. Auf der linken Seite des Erkers ist der Kampf zwischen Jacob und Gott abgebildet. Jacob kämpfte die ganze Nacht mit einer ihm unbekannten Person. Im Morgengrauen offenbarte sich diese als Gott und segnete ihn. Das zweite Bild zeigt Elija, der am Bach Kerit sitzt. Zwei Raben bringen ihm Brot und Fleisch. Im dritten Bild sieht man Jona unter dem Kürbisbaum sitzend, ausserhalb der Stadt Ninive. Und im letzten Bild ist Tobias abgebildet, der auf seinem Weg vom Erzengel Raphael begleitet wird. Zwischen den schönen Schnitzereien befinden sich Löwen, Frauenfiguren, Akanthusblätter und geflügelte Liebesgötter die Trompete spielen.

Im Jahr 1943 malte der Maler Willi Koch das Gemälde rechts neben dem Erker. Abgebildet sieht man einen Greif mit Gold. Der Greif ist ein Fabeltier der Antike, das den Körper eines Löwen und den Kopf und die Flügel eines Adlers hat. Die oben abgebildeten Menschen rennen dem Tod in die Arme, weil sie zu gierig waren. Der untere Teil des Bildes zeigt das Glück der Zufriedenen. 

Greif Erker St.Gallen

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My Pocket Guide to Saint Gallen, Switzerland is a full color, info-packed guide to this special little city. It is an authentic look and all it has to offer—including great restaurants, beautiful scenery, shops, culture guide, map and architecture which spans the last few centuries.

Whether you are a visitor, a new resident of St.Gallen, or even someone who’s been in the Area for generations, this guide will help you get to know St.Gallen a little better. Or maybe even a lot.

Everything you need to know about where to go for the best dining, local food, shopping, outdoor, education experiences in St.Gallen. Written and produced by a local (Clarissa Schwarz) for locals, visitors, and new residents, too. All by Clarissa Schwarz.

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