The fountain is an approximate replica of a historic drinking fountain designed for animals. In around 1900, several such cast iron fountains were manufactured in a foundry in Blansko (Czech Republic, South Moravian Region) on behalf of the renowned Bratislava branch of the German company Stollwerck. Following their removal from public spaces, one fountain – originally located at Račianske Mýto and still there until the 1950s – was preserved in the Čierna Voda equestrian complex (part of the municipality of Chorvátsky Grob). In 2001, a temporary epoxy copy created for the Old Town was ceremoniously unveiled at the international festival of water sprites. It not only accentuated the architectural and urbanistic intersection of Ventúrska, Panská, and Straková streets, but also served as a form of roadblock for motor vehicles. A year later, the fountain’s epoxy body was replaced with an approximate copy created from alloy. This is preserved until today, and was comprehensively renovated in 2012 and 2019. 

The original fountain was designed as a column that supported three circular basins located at various levels: the bottom, approximately the middle, and the top. The lower basin was used to hydrate dogs and cats, the middle one to refresh horses, and the upper one for birds to drink from. The central fluted column was embellished with the basins and various cornices and similar elements, and additionally with three small lion heads (set above the middle basin) and three small horse heads (set below the upper basin). 

The Old Town replica rests on a two-step pedestal with a stone-slab clad octagonal base. The cast has been adapted for the public – above the central tank are three buttons and three nozzles that provide drinking water.

PB

Research status as of 02. 05. 2023.