Leipzig: Kaufhaus Ebert

1902 – 1904

Architects: August Hermann Schmidt, Arthur Johlige

Thomaskirchhof 22, Leipzig, Germany

Client

In 1902, Franz Ebert commissioned architects August Hermann Schmidt and Arthur Johlige to design an Art Nouveau building to house a department store selling high-quality women’s clothing.

The building was to have about 3,000 square meters of usable floor space.

Building

Of the three equally sized façade segments, the one with the entrance has the greatest decorative value.

Distinctive corner pilasters with squat corner turrets connect to the side facades.

The central part is crowned by a segmented pediment with a large central window.

Above that is a crowned tower bay, whose window follows the radius of the masonry. Underneath it, you can read the name of the builder.

Reliefs

The reliefs on either side of the main entrance depict the allegories of the deadly sins: Superbia (vanity) and Luxuria (hedonism).

Indanthren House

In the 1930s and 1940s, the Ebert department store was a branch of Indanthren, a company owned by I.G. Farben that sold textiles dyed or printed with indanthrene through its own fashion service.

These were businesses set up by the German chemical company I.G. Farben where textiles dyed or printed with indanthrene were sold through their own fashion service.

During World War II, the two large allegories were dismantled for use as metal donations.

Post-war

In 1949, Konsum Leipzig took over the department store and operated it as Kaufhaus Fortschritt.

Since 1990, a bank branch has been located in the building.

Restoration and Renovation

From 1995 to 1996, the building was renovated. During this time, the two allegories that had been dismantled were replaced, and the decorative elements were gilded.

The gilding of the copper elements on the façade was planned in the original design but not carried out at the time. It was completed during the renovation as a requirement for historical monument preservation.