Peter J. Spoerer

Jürgen Burkhardt – Multiple World Beard Champion
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Beards have always been a natural form of adornment for men; they have long been subject to changing fashion trends and can convey a wide range of meanings.
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For the Romans, for instance, beards were often associated with barbarians. Unkempt beards were frowned upon and regarded as signs of mourning, protest, or poverty.
Even back then, beard grooming was a time-consuming affair.
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It surely takes a great deal of time for Jürgen Burkhardt to style his beard into such an intricate shape.
His perseverance and dedication have frequently been rewarded; he is a six-time World Beard Champion.
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Beard styling and grooming also feature in a special exhibition at the Landesmuseum Wuerttemberg Landesmuseum Württemberg dedicated to a truly fascinating topic: „Zier & Zeichen: Was Männer schmückt.“ (engl. “Decoration & Symbols: What Adorns Men.“)
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My special thanks go to Burkhardt and all the “models” for their patience and permission to photograph them, as well as to the organizers, curators, and the many others involved in this special exhibition who made it possible.
I especially thank Dr. Astrid Fendt Astrid Fendt, Sissi Kalpakidou sissi_kalpakidou, and Lucie Boettger for their kind support.
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Special Exhibition: „Zier & Zeichen: Was Männer schmückt.“ (engl. “Decoration & Symbols: What Adorns Men.“)
Location: Landesmuseum Wuerttemberg, Old Castle, Stuttgart
Duration: October 17, 2026 - April 25, 2027
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Photo: Peter J. Spoerer © – All rights reserved
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Refreshing – Adrian’s Colors
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Isn’t it refreshing?
The bold raspberry tone of Adrian’s shirt and the fresh shades of green in his silk bandana?
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The cap in a light sand shade serves as a nice neutral accent, evoking images of sandy beaches.
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These color combinations also reminded me of ice cream and instantly lifted my spirits: raspberry ice cream thanks to the shirt’s color, and chocolate ice cream thanks to the wonderful tone of Adrian’s skin.
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I mentioned this, and we both laughed. Ice cream would have been a more than welcome treat for both of us on that scorching summer day—about a year ago—when we were sitting across from each other at the Pitti Uomo trade fair in Florence, chatting while we worked.
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Thank you very much noch einmal, Adrian adrian richards, for your support. Your presence alone was a huge help to me in that situation.
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Wishing you all a wonderful, sunny day! Genießt das sonnige Wetter aber schützt Euch vor der Hitze!
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Photo: Peter J. Spoerer © – All rights reserved


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