Sousoší Nejsvětější Trojice (Loket) Holy trinity column

The statue of the Holy Trinity, also known as the pestilence column, is a Baroque sculpture work in the historical core of Lokte in Sokolov district. The monument was completed in 1719. It represents an important proof of Baroque piety and regional sculpture and since 1963 it has been protected as a cultural monument.

The creation of the column was accompanied by complicated disputes between the city council and a number of sculptors, which led to repeated changes in the job. The original contract was concluded in November 1716 with the Cheb sculptor Peter Anton Felsner, but the town decided to hold a competition. It involved Johann Karl Stilp from Waldsassen and the yellow sculptor Oswald Josef Wenda. Although the written contract is missing, the contract was eventually awarded by Johann Karl Stilp. The stone work was performed by local master Martin Lambacher with son Sebastian. Historical sources suggest that the main sculptor has been replaced after finding the defects based on an assessment by Osvald Josef Wendy. On 14 November 1718 a new contract was concluded with Jáchymov artist Johann George Grobisch, who created the top sculpture and city emblem. The reason for the exchange was probably economic disagreements, non-compliance with deadlines or doubts about quality of execution. The column was completed in the autumn of 1719 and ceremonially consecrated on November 12 by the Cheb commendator Pellet.

The architecture of the work is conceived into a triangular plan that symbolizes Christian tripartite. The building is surrounded by stone railing with balustrations. The three-sided base ends with a profiled ledge, on whose ribs stands the statues of St. Wenceslas, St. Florian, St. John the Baptist, Virgin Mary the Immaculata, St. John the Nepomuk and St. Shebestian. Above them is a plinth decorated with volute wings, on which are placed statues of archangels Michael, Gabriel and Rafael. The tall triangular column itself carries the Latin texts of prayer and culminates in the statues of the Holy Trinity with a cross and a star. The construction used a combination of grey granite on stages and non-commercial parts of the plinth, while sculptures and balustrations are made of fine grain sandstone.

Over the centuries, the monument has undergone several repairs. The first renovation took place in 1835, followed by work in 1873- 1875 and in 1908 when the restoration was carried out by the Cheb sculptor Karl Wilfert. Another comprehensive reconstruction took place in 1959 and the last major intervention took place in 2001. For his work he received Johann Karl Stilp 329 gold, while Johann George Grobisch was paid 140 gold for the top sculpture.

Today, the sculpture forms an invisible dominant feature of the historical center Lokte. Visitors can appreciate the technical complexity of baroque sculpture and the historical importance of the building, which reflects the period religious culture and the pursuit of visual expression of faith. The monument is freely accessible in the public area and represents an objective which should not miss any interested people in the history of the region.