Sculpted Keystone "Spring"

The present keystone originates from the sculpture workshop of Josef Vetter. The material is Savonnières, a limestone from France. It is frost-resistant and easy to work with. When exposed to air, it hardens over time. For this reason, it remains a highly popular material and has been widely used not only in Paris but also in Switzerland and Germany.

This piece is a keystone from the second Lucerne railway station, which was inaugurated in 1896. It is a reflection of its time and embodies the ambitions of this prestigious building.

Designed according to the plans of Hans Wilhelm Auer, the striking dome—over 40 meters high—created a counterpoint to the hotels on the opposite side of the lake and was highly controversial. This was because domes were traditionally regarded as the "most distinguished architectural motif" reserved for places of worship, and now the station was seen as a competitor. The immense investments and the significant transformations to the landscape brought about by the first railway lines and stations ushered in a new era and left a profound impression on people.