Jubilejní kašna Fountain

Jubilejní kašna is a monument located on Staré náměstí in Sokolov. Unveiled in 1898, it commemorates the 50th anniversary of Emperor Franz Joseph I's ascension to the throne. Situated near the kostel svatého Jakuba Většího and the Základní umělecká škola Sokolov, it has been a recognized cultural monument since December 27, 2006.

The fountain was unveiled on December 11, 1898. Its creation was financially supported by the prominent Schram entrepreneurial family, with Adolf Schram starší serving as the primary initiator. Due to this contribution, the site is also known as Schramova kašna.

The structure features a granite base comprising two octagonal steps; the lower step measures 6.59 meters across, while the upper step is 5.51 meters. An octagonal granite basin, 4.47 meters wide, sits atop these steps, featuring a slightly widened upper edge that can serve as a seat. At the center of the basin, a pedestal made of quarry stone blocks supports a rectangular granite plinth. The edges of the plinth are accented with pilasters and metal spouts shaped like fish—likely dolphins—framed by decorative volutes.

Oval bronze reliefs decorate the plinth. Two remain: one depicting August Schram, a former honorary citizen who passed away before the monument's creation, and another showing the Sokolov city coat of arms. Historical drawings indicate that a third relief of Franz Joseph I was originally present but was removed in the 1920s under laws protecting the republic. An inscription reading *Den Stadt Ehr und Zier* was also previously located on the plinth.

A bronze shell atop the granite plinth holds a pyramidal composition of three putti symbolizing water dominion. This group includes a semi-reclining figure, a seated figure facing away from the first, and a winged amoretto. The amoretto holds a small fish, likely an eel, from which water flows. The sculpture group stands approximately 1.8 meters high. The sculptor, Cuno von Uechtritz-Steinkirch, was likely inspired by Gian Lorenzo Bernini's Triton Fountain in Rome.

In the early 1950s, the monument was moved to a newly built park in the Butterscheibe district to facilitate road modifications on Staré náměstí, which then served as the main road connecting Karlovy Vary and Cheb. The Butterscheibe area had been largely destroyed during an Allied air raid on April 17, 1945. By 1958, the city decided to replace the park with six panel houses, leading to the monument's dismantling in 1960. Its components were stored in the technical services area and the city museum depository.

During the mid-1990s reconstruction of Staré náměstí, the city decided to return the monument to its original location. Restoration was overseen by doc. Petr Siegl from the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, who used historical photographs to replace lost or damaged parts. The bronze for the sculptures was sourced from a three-ton statue of Lenin by Ladislav Grulich, which the city donated to Academy of Fine Arts students for their first work with bronze. The restored monument was unveiled on October 27, 1998, marking its centenary and the 80th anniversary of the republic.

In 2007, the monument required unplanned repairs due to cracking in the artificial stone, which threatened the stability of the sculptures. Vandalism also became an issue after electricity was installed for evening lighting. Underwater lights were either ripped out or burned out due to overheating caused by water leaks. Despite embedding the lights directly into the stone, vandalism persisted, prompting the city to install wooden protective crates during the winter months starting in 2001.

Today, Jubilejní kašna stands as a restored piece of local history in the heart of Sokolov. It offers a concrete example of late 19th-century artistic ambition and the subsequent urban transformations of the 20th century. Visitors are invited to observe the detailed bronze work and the historical layout of Staré náměstí.