Osterwick basket carrier

For many years, the statue of a packman has stood here in Osterwick. Since the old packman was stolen in 2021, the Osterwick local heritage association commissioned an exact replica.

Several steps were necessary for the production of the new bronze statue. The bronze was made in the traditional bell and art foundry Petit & Gebr. Edelbrock in Gescher. To create a mold of the old statue, it is placed in a special molding sand and coated with silicone rubber and plaster. This procedure is repeated for the back of the figure.

Once the plaster shell has hardened, the actual mold for the bronze casting is made from wax. The wax is hand-brushed, and jute fabric and struts provide better stability. Then, the halves are assembled and cool down together. Before pouring, the silicone and plaster are removed, and the wax model receives its final touch.

Now the temperatures in the foundry rise: Bronze can only be cast at just over 1000 degrees. The mold is embedded in the ground, and the glowing bronze is poured into the mold through holes. Once the bronze is solid, the figure is exposed and cleaned. In the finishing process, the bronze receives its typical appearance: it is sanded, flamed, and patinated. Finally, the statue is sealed with a layer of beeswax and wiped down with a cotton cloth.

With the power of a tractor, the statue was placed and secured on the new sandstone pedestal here at the main street in Osterwick – a true gem for Osterwick that commemorates the packman for eternity.

A basket on the back, a cap on the head, and a red cloth around the neck – anyone who encountered a man with these items in the Münsterland in the 19th and 20th centuries was dealing with a packman. The packmen were wandering merchants who traveled from place to place to sell or buy various goods.

The name packman comes from the large basket they carried on their backs. It was called a Kiepe and was made of wood or woven willow rods. In addition to the cap and the red neckerchief, the traveling merchants wore wooden shoes, a walking stick, and a blue apron. To this day, they are depicted in this characteristic attire.

The packmen traded in household goods of all kinds. They went from house to house to offer their products there. Surely not an easy job: For the packmen covered long distances with the heavy basket on their backs. The profession of the packman was usually practiced by men who were particularly tall and strong. In exchange for their products, the traveling merchants demanded money or traded goods for agricultural products such as eggs. They could transport those well in their Kiepe and make money elsewhere.

Over time, the packmen became increasingly organized: They agreed on which areas and on which days they were allowed to trade to avoid competition among themselves. Additionally, every packman needed a traveling trade license to carry out the buying and selling of goods.

Besides their work as merchants, the packmen had another important task: On their travels, they covered a lot of ground and heard all sorts of stories. In the next town, they could share the news they had learned elsewhere. Some residents knew how to take advantage of this and sent messages with the packmen or had them arrange weddings.

The era of the packmen came to an end in the first half of the 20th century: Some of them settled down and opened shops or conducted their trading journeys by car. Although the profession of the packman has been extinct for nearly 100 years, the traveling merchant as a historical figure still plays a significant role in the Münsterland: Whether as a statue, association, radio station, or souvenirs, the memory of the packmen is still alive in the region!

Charly