“Everyone has his own field of work The only thing we don’t have is money. And the person to blame for that is Dieterich For he guards the cash register fiercely.”
(Ein jeder hat sein Arbeitsfeld Blos was wir haben, ist kein Geld. Und schuld daran ist Dieterich Denn der bewacht als Wüterich Die Kasse.”) The “Dieterich” in the poem no doubt refers to Dietrich Hempel, the Kraas cousin who was employed at the foundry. The foundry finally closed its doors after nearly 130 years. The moulds of the various artists whose sculptures had been produced by the firm were
Entrance to the former Kraas Foundry in Berlin on Schlesische Strasse; as it
sold at auction in Berlin in 2010. Today – a sign of the times, perhaps – the
stands today. No longer a foundry, but a
former Kraas factory is occupied by a company that deals in digital imagery.
digital imagery related venture.
Above: Frontispiece of catalogue showing bronze smelting at the Kraas foundry, Above, right:
Roland Paris had a warm, almost filial, relationship with his foundry.
Kraas catalogue, published in German,
Always ready with a poem, he wrote one for the 80th birthday of the firm’s
French, English and Spanish
creator, whom he calls “Vater Kraas” (Father Kraas). An early draft of this
Above, middle:
affectionate poem, hastily scribbled on a piece of scrap paper and illustrated
Logo designed by Walther Klemm
with rough pencil sketches, was probably meant to be read aloud at a party
Above, bottom: Kraas foundry seal 60
for the venerable head of the firm. Paris clearly felt at home here; the verses might have been written for a happy family gathering: 61