Giełduś

Story

Gieldus (the Stock Exchange Dwarf) has been monitoring the financial markets from Plac Solny 16 since 2 April 2009, created by Wroclaw's master dwarf sculptor Tomasz Moczek. He stands guard at the entrance to the Old Stock Exchange building, a specialist in WIG indices, speculation, bull markets and bear markets. Word among the city's dwarfs is that Gieldus once predicted a market crash by sneezing, and that the other dwarfs consult him before any major financial decision.

History & Significance

Gieldus was installed on 2 April 2009, right in the middle of the global financial crisis, giving him an especially topical debut. He stands at Plac Solny 16, the neoclassical Old Stock Exchange building designed by Carl Ferdinand Langhans in the 1820s, which served as the first seat of the Wroclaw stock exchange. The building was built modelled on Italian Renaissance palaces, and its facade famously omits some elements of the city's coat of arms because the merchants who commissioned it resented paying municipal taxes. Gieldus was created by Tomasz Moczek, the originator of the entire Wroclaw dwarf project.

Inspiration

Placing a stock-exchange dwarf on Plac Solny was a natural fit: the square has centuries of trading history, from medieval salt merchants to 19th-century exchange traders. The description on wromap.pl introduces Gieldus as 'a specialist in WIG indices, speculation, bull and bear markets' — a playful but pointed reference to the world of finance. As a creation of Tomasz Moczek, the original sculptor, Gieldus carries extra prestige in the dwarf hierarchy.

Fun Facts

• Gieldus was unveiled during the 2008-2009 global financial crisis, making him an unintentionally topical commentator on market volatility.
• He was created by Tomasz Moczek — the very same sculptor who designed the very first Wroclaw dwarfs back in 2005, so Gieldus is pedigree.
• The Old Stock Exchange building where he stands was deliberately designed without the full city coat of arms because the merchant guild objected to paying municipal taxes.
• Plac Solny means 'Salt Square' — a reminder that this place of commerce was first built on the salt trade from the Wieliczka mines.
• Gieldus and Dlugi are literally centimetres apart at the Old Stock Exchange entrance, making this the most densely packed trading floor in dwarf history.

How to Find This Dwarf

From the Main Market Square (Rynek), walk southwest through the corner by Santander Bank — Plac Solny opens up immediately. The Old Stock Exchange building with its impressive neoclassical columns is at number 16 on the far side of the square. Gieldus and Dlugi are right at the entrance steps. The walk from the Rynek takes less than two minutes.

Nearby Dwarfs

Frequently Asked Questions

Accessibility

Wheelchair AccessibleGround LevelOutdoor

Set on the cobblestone pavement of Plac Solny, directly in front of the Old Stock Exchange building. Cobblestones are uneven but the terrain is flat; generally manageable for wheelchairs.