Reading time: 2 minutes 
Summary for: Stolen Prague sculpture makes a comeback nearly 20 years after disappearingA bronze sculpture that disappeared from a Prague housing estate nearly two decades ago is getting a second life. A replica of Prameník, a work by Czech artist Vladimír Kýn, has been completed and is expected to return to its original setting in Prague's Ďáblice neighborhood.
The original sculpture, created in the 1960s, was stolen in 2007. Now, after years without the artwork, a reconstruction has been made using historic photographs and a small surviving model.
The new version, created by sculptor Jaromíra Němcová, weighs more than 300 kilograms and is currently on display at the Ládví Cultural Center.
A piece of Prague's public art history
Prameník, which can be loosely translated as “Spring,” was part of the public art associated with the Ďáblice housing estate in Prague 8.
Like many artworks installed in Czech public spaces during the second half of the 20th century, it was designed to become part of residents' everyday surroundings rather than remain inside a gallery.
Its disappearance in 2007 left the original site without the sculpture for almost 20 years.
According to Czech Radio's report, the artist's family chose not to tell Kýn that his sculpture had been stolen, wanting to spare him the disappointment.
His son, architectural historian Zdeněk Lukeš, later became involved in efforts to bring the work back.
A new sculpture from old photographs
Recreating the artwork required piecing together its appearance from available documentation, including photographs and a small model that had survived.
Sculptor Jaromíra Němcová used those materials to produce a new bronze version of the work, preserving the design of the original rather than creating an entirely different piece.
The replica has now been completed, although its return to the original outdoor location is still being prepared.
For the time being, visitors can see it at the Ládví Cultural Center, where it offers a chance to view the reconstructed sculpture before its planned installation in Ďáblice.
The project also draws attention to the fate of public artworks that have disappeared from Czech cities over the decades, whether through theft, damage, or redevelopment.
For residents of Prague 8, the return of Prameník would restore a small but distinctive part of the neighborhood's artistic history.
