This lovely fountain and sculpture inside a circular set of columns was controversial when first designed. The
This fountain was designed by Hermann Billing in 1905. The original design, in accordance with the style of the art of youth, had a mermaid placed on a pedestal, not yet containing the rotunda with the men's faces. The draft was heavily discussed in the town council. The representation of a naked woman in an exposed place was perceived as inappropriate by some members of the town council. The design was nevertheless finally released and Hermann Billing was allowed to realize it including artistic modifications. He did this together with the sculptor Hermann Binz. Since Billing was obviously annoyed by the discussion in the town council, he realized the well so that next to him and Binz also the members of the municipal council look at the naked woman. A member of the town council, who would prefer to have a girl represented in a costume, is even beaten by a mermaid at the beard.
On the columns are the faces of Hermann Billing, Lord Mayor Karl Schnetzler, painters Ludwig Dill , Wilhelm Trübner, Hans Thoma, Friedrich Fehr, Karl Ruf, the merchant and city councilor Otto Büttner, the painters Viktor Roman and Otto Eichrodt, Professor Reinhard Baumeister and his son, the painter Hermann Baumeister, butcher master and city councilor Ludwig Käppele and Hermann Binz.
At the time, the well caused a scandal on a regional basis and was the reason why Hermann Billing received fewer orders in Karlsruhe.