The current form of the Lebus city coat of arms in 2024 shows the following: "In blue, on green ground, a leaping golden wolf with a silver lamb in its maw." (*)

In his "Wanderungen durch die Mark Brandenburg" (Walks through the Mark Brandenburg), Theodor Fontane describes old Lebus as a city caught in the tension between past and future. He refers to the city seal – a wolf holding a lamb in its maw – as a symbol of the relentless change of times. The new era, the wolf, devours old Lebus, which was once characterized by rich history and flourishing life. Yet, something remains even in this image: the landscape, nature, memory.

This saga of Lebus ties into Fontane's metaphor and tells of a wolf and a sheep that do not remain in enmity, but instead, through insight and solidarity, pave the way for a new future. Lebus, the gateway to the Oderbruch, becomes the scene of a decision – for the balance between past and progress.

Using samurai as a stylistic device for this saga helps to bring both the print motif and the story into harmony with wisdom and teachings. Similarly, the motif breaks out of the framework, as does the saga itself and its lesson. They break out of the framework of typical figures and stories from European narratives.

In stories and myths, samurai often appear as tragic heroes who must overcome the conflict between duty and personal morality. This archetypal struggle between inner peace and external pressure is also reflected in modern stories, where samurai carry a deeper meaning for the balance between past and future – a motif that also shapes the story of the wolf and the sheep in Lebus.

Inspired by this image, I designed a motif that shows both strength and solidarity with a view towards the future. The colors were deliberately chosen to deviate from those of the city coat of arms. It is a further, yet consistent, break with the specifications of the current coat of arms. These deviations are intended to make you, as a person, reflect. And also to engage in dialogue.

I wish you much joy in reading this saga and also in wearing the textiles or using the accessories from this collection. The products are also perfectly suitable as gifts.

D. Jänchen

(*) Source: service.brandenburg.de | https://service.brandenburg.de/service/de/adressen/kommunalverzeichnis/wappen/~wappen-der-stadt-lebus-336838