A pallet hovered very slowly over Wildsteig on the crane.
There was valuable cargo on it: the 113-year-old and freshly restored Madonna figure flew back to the Wildsteiger Grotto.
Another important section on the historic construction site has now been completed.
Wildsteig
- the palms of the hands together, the view to the sky - and the workers scurry under her. Carefully but eagerly. The Madonna figure has been back in its place in the Wildsteiger Lourdes Grotto since Tuesday, and a prayer service took place on the platform in front of it that evening. With the return of the Madonna, another section was completed on the historic construction site; the restoration is expected to be completed in autumn.
Construction manager Stefan Herterich and the brothers Dawid and Pawel Michalak have been putting the Christian site, which has been closed since 2008, back in order since spring 2019.
Stone by stone is progressing, there is still a lot to be done (report will follow).
The lower area was completed last year, this year the focus has so far been on the upper grotto, in the center of which the Madonna is located.
The Madonna was outsourced for several months
She was outsourced for several months for the work.
She did not have to travel far: she could be kept in a cellar nearby.
"We were looking for a place where the climate is similar to that in the grotto," says Herterich - so that the oak is not damaged.
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The Madonna is gently laid down and packed before it goes back to the grotto by crane.
© Hans-Helmut Herold
There, restorer Bettina Mark took care of the Madonna. The expert was impressed by the condition of the sculpture, which, like the grotto, dates from 1908. “It was really in great shape.” The place in the grotto is perfect: through the cave there is only little rain and, thanks to the east orientation, hardly any sun can get to the Madonna.
Nevertheless, about 40 hours of work came together for Mark.
She cleaned the figure, repaired cracks with elastic material.
And traced imperfections.
Very carefully and cautiously.
Herterich, himself an experienced restorer, attaches great importance to preserving the old when renovating the grotto and only making new what is absolutely necessary.
Thus, for example, only small areas were retouched on the Madonna's eyebrows and lips.
It was important for Mark to find exactly the right shade and not to tremble.
"You can see a mistake immediately," says Morgenbacher.
At the end, the figure was let in, i.e. oiled for protection.
For skin-colored areas, Mark used a different material so that the face, hands and feet appear more matt than the robe.
Figure weighs over 100 kilograms
When the Madonna was back in place on Tuesday, Mark was very impressed. “That was a nice restoration,” she says. “You are already establishing a connection.” This is why the restorer wanted to be there when the cellar was moved to the grotto. Herterich and the Michalak brothers still had active support from community worker Hermann Borst.
The men had built a pallet especially for the transport - with recesses for the face and hands.
Because the Madonna was placed on the front.
"Otherwise we would have to turn it in the grotto, there is not enough space for that," explained Herterich.
Well packed, the four workers and Mark loaded the figure onto a trailer, which Herterich maneuvered to the Wildsteiger Church.
There it went for the Madonna at the crane, which stands next to the Church of St. Jacob for the time of the construction site, in the air.
Nobody knows exactly how heavy it is.
“100 kilograms didn't work,” estimates Herterich.
"More like 120." Lying down she floated over Wildsteig into the grotto.
Herterich and his colleagues had specially erected a makeshift scaffolding on which the statue could land before the men erected it on its old pedestal.
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They did it: (from left) the craftsmen Dawid and Pawel Michalak, community workers Hermann Borst, Stefan Herterich and restorer Bettina Mark set up the Madonna in the grotto.
© Hans-Helmut Herold
The Michalak brothers had prepared it the days before.
Because the wood between the tuff stones was rotten, they removed it and filled the cavity with mortar.
Herterich estimates that they needed “five wheelbarrows full”.
The experienced Michalak brothers left the stones as they were.
"It looks just like before," says Herterich happily.
He then attached the star wreath to the head and put her rosary - according to the inscription, it was made in 1967 - around the Madonna's hands.
In the hanging cross there is a small glass ampoule, possibly filled with water.
It says “Lourdes”.
Herterich suspects that it comes from the French pilgrimage site.
After the work was done - the Madonna's way home took around 45 minutes - he looked relieved up to the upper grotto and the oak stature.
When it comes to such a task, “one is awesome,” admits the Wurmansauer.
"Nice that everything worked."
