A special "jewel" has moved into Wempe Maximilianstraße: a three metre tall brass olive tree now adorns this traditional jeweller's basement. To mark the presentation of the "Olive Tree Pompeii", Alessandro Rizzo, Managing Director of Wempe Maximilianstraße, alongside Sarah Kronsbein, owner of Munich's "Kronsbein Galerie" and HERMANN hosted a "Storytelling Art Cocktail" on Thursday 8 August 2024 to tell guests about the history and journey of this very special tree.

"The Olive Tree Pompeii has been given a new stage: at "Wempe" in the historic Maximilianarkaden, the former Münzarkaden," says Sarah Kronsbein. "This is exactly where the historic Münzgarten was once located, where this tree has now found its new home. The tree is now in its rightful place on historical ground, on the green quartzite laid in a star shape, which reflects the former Münzgarten. From there, you can look out onto Alte Münze. The Olive Tree Pompeii is also just a stone's throw away from Munich's historical roots, the city walls that were uncovered during the revitalisation of the Maximilian Arcades. And all this is in the midst of the most magnificent and exclusive timepieces. It thus spans the arc between history and the present day, between the roots of the past and the beginnings of art and culture."

Alessandro Rizzo, Managing Director of Wempe Maximilianstrasse, was also delighted with this cooperation: With "Olive Tree Pompeii", a work of art has been created that is emotionally powerful and symbiotically combines art and history. With in-depth historical knowledge and a keen sense of modernity – equal to the expertise of our master watchmakers and goldsmiths – HERMANN stages the tree in a unique and inspiring way. We are proud to offer a stage to this work of art."

The "Olive Tree Pompeii" is a symbol of the roots of our history: the deeper and the further back we go, the better. The tree is a way to show just how important a role time plays in human life and in nature. It is a reflection of the events of the past centuries as well as of the present and a wonderful sign of growth and therefore of the future." The robust brass plates for the tree were shaped, chiselled, ground and finely polished by hand in countless hammer blows. The result: a three metre tall monument whose every meticulously formed groove, recess and gnarled shape reflects its 500-year history. "Normally, such a tree is rooted in the same place over the centuries and never takes centre stage. This tree, however, is breaking new ground: it can travel and tell stories."