14 Sweden’s Rare Sculptures
Statues in Sweden
Discover Sweden’s 14 rare sculptures.
1. Mörksugga Statue
2. The Flute Player
3. The Swedish Melancholy
4. Bengt Erland Fogelberg’s Norse God Statues
5. Berzelius Park
6. Margareta Krook’s Statue
7. Järnpojke
8. Wildman
9. Amalia Eriksson Statue
10. Skyddsmantelmadonnan
11. Lovikkavanten (Lovikka Mitten Statue)
12. Greta Garbo Statue of Integrity
13. Rag and Bone
14. Walking to Boras
Statue of Mörksugga
From: Avesta, Sverige
Now, a cuddly version of a dark mythological beast serves as the town’s mascot.
MÖRKSUGGA IS A SWEDISH mythological creature, which is said to be present always and everywhere, listens and perceives without ever being heard or seen for itself. In the Dalarna region, stories were told of a “dark sow”, which could manifest itself as a black form at night or a log that refused to catch fire. These days, few people believe in such superstitions, but Dark Sows still live on as a souvenir.
The first popularization of the dark unit can be attributed to Verner Molin, a Swedish artist (Svensk konstnär) who presented Mörksugga in many of his paintings. His view of the creature, however, was less ominous and more cuddly (similar to the artist Tove Jansson’s Moomin characters). Later, the design was picked up by Birger Eriksson, who made it a recognizable souvenir that became very popular in Dalarna. Today, you will find dark-sucking figures in every tourist shop in the area and others nod to it around the province. Outside the region, however, it is quite unknown.
The municipality of Avesta in particular has become associated with Mörksugga. Although the legend does not stem from it, this is where the toy version was born. As a result, you will find many descriptions throughout Avesta. Most notable is the large black sucker on top of a pole in the middle of a roundabout.
The statue (staty) was placed there in 2018 and presented with a special ceremony. The statue rotates around its axis at a rate of about one rotation per four hours. Due to its slowness, most people initially did not know it was moving at all but began to notice that it changed position every time they passed it.
Some people pointed out that it was facing them no matter what direction they came from, while others said it always looked away. This led to some confusion with the locals in the beginning and still does with tourists. It’s a perfect way to keep the dark sow’s eerie feeling.
Know Before Going
This Mörksugga is readily available, but do look out for traffic because it is on a roundabout.
Visit the site to buy Statues Online (Kop Statyer Online), or if you want any information about sculptures visit us. Lexan Decor
The Flute Player
From: Sverige, Stockholm
This little statue (staty) points to the erroneous roots of the adjacent green landscape park.
IN THE EASTERN PART of Tivoli Park in Solna, Sweden, the large green areas around suddenly turn into an equally wild, but a little more spacious park. This part of Tivoli Park, known as “Piper’s Park”, is actually an old English-style landscape park, designed by the man who brought English landscape style to the country. And while this part of the park still bears its name, there is a small cherub statue (liten kerubstaty) that makes the park’s name a little more complicated.
Piper’s Park was the brainchild of Fredrik Magnus Piper, Sweden’s foremost expert on “English Garden”. On behalf of the court Gustav Philip Creutz, Piper conceived of the park in the early 18th century.
Work began and the area took shape, but the project ended abruptly in 1785 when Creutz died and interest in the project diminished among the courts. The park was abandoned and left to nature. However, the name lingered, its meaning forgotten.
Slowly, the park, still known as “Piper’s Park”, began to be associated with the musical instrument. In the 1970s, the connection with Piper was resumed after old maps appeared and attempts were made to restore the landscape architect’s vision. However, the connection was never completely restored. Many people still think it is a generic name rather than a person’s real name.
This erroneous assumption was reinforced by the addition of a statue of a little boy playing the flute, a little beeper. The small statue (liten staty), created by the sculptor Adam Fischer, still stands near an entrance to the park and reminds visitors of a “beeper”, just not the one they are probably meant to think of.
Know Before Going
The park can be freely viewed.
The Swedish Melancholy
From: Linköping, Sverige
Look carefully, and you’ll see this rusty man weeping.
FIRST VIEW, “THE SWEDISH Melancholy”, a sculpture made by the artist Marie-Louise Ekman, just looks like a rusty old sculpture that has long been forgotten. But for anyone attentive, it is obvious that rust is part of the piece. Take a closer look at the statue and you will notice that tears seep down the cheeks of a man who is bothered by melancholy.
The iron statue weighs 600 kilos and is exposed to rain, snow, wind, cold, and heat. It was originally made for the Swedish pavilion at the world exhibition in Seville in 1992. It was then exhibited at a regional museum in the city of Linköping, which later bought the artwork for its permanent collection.
Like some other statues (statyer), “The Swedish Melancholy” has also been beheaded. In this particular case, however, the act was committed by maintenance personnel who changed pipes inside its head after the statue had not cried for a year.
The statue (staty) also aroused some controversy when a copy was planned to be installed in the city of Limhamn. The locals there did not want a crying statue in their neighborhood, and one person even suggested that a urinal would have been a better choice. Gösta Ekman, after whom the statue is modeled, replied that he could pose for another statue (staty) where he would urinate. Instead, the proposed statue was moved.
Know Before Going
The monument is housed in downtown Linköping, Sweden, south of the regional museum.
Must read: Why Statues Matter
Bengt Erland Fogelberg’s Norse God Statues
From: Stockholm, Sverige
Finally reunited, in a museum courtyard, the three effigies still stand.
BENGT ERLAND FOGELBERG’s “BIG TRIO” is a set of three large marble statues built-in 1866 for the National Museum’s statue yard (Nationalmuseets statygård). Such pictures depicted three of the most powerful Nordic gods, not unlike the ancient Greek and Roman sculptures (Romerska skulpturer) of ancient times: the wise Odin, the mighty Thor, and the magnificent Baldur.
From 1960 to the end of 2018, two of the statues were moved elsewhere, sometimes on display and sometimes in storage. The trio has been completed since 2019 and now stands in the museum’s courtyard.
Know Before Going
The big trio is on display in the museum’s large courtyard. It is to the left of the gift shop at the rear of the ground floor. Entrance is free in the museum.
Berzelius Park
From: Stockholm, Sverige
This monument and park commemorate one of the pioneers of modern chemistry, the Swedish chemist Jacob Berzelius.
JÖNS JACOB BERZELIUS IS SWEDEN’s most famous chemist and is considered one of the founders of modern chemistry, together with Robert Boyle, John Dalton, and Antoine Lavoisier. He is best known for developing the modern system of chemical formula notation in the early 19th century; he is the reason why the symbol for water is H2O, oxygen is O2, and so on.
This chemical designation proved to be so useful because it shows the electrochemical ingredients as well as the proportions of the ingredients. But that was just one of many contributions Berzelius made to the field, including his influential electrochemical theory and discovered several elements.
Berzelius worked with various chemicals throughout his life, which took a strain on his body and soul over the years. This chronic exposure gradually tied him to a wheelchair and, during his final months, impaired his memory. He died at the age of 68 in 1848.
Today, Berzelius’ work is so basic and widespread that he often does not get credit for it — much like how the Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev is hardly mentioned when we talk about his periodic table. But in Sweden, where the country is very proud of this man and respects his legacy in many ways, this is not so. The biggest tribute to Berzelius is his name park in Stockholm, where you will find a large statue of the chemist in the center.
Know Before Going
The park is open to the public every day, 24 hours a day.
Margareta Krook’s Statue
From: Stockholm, Sverige
A heated statue pays tribute to one of the great actresses of Sweden.
MARGARETA KROOK IS A WELL-KNOWN actress in Sweden (skådespelerska i Sverige), perhaps the country’s most famous. She starred in dozens of films from the 1950s until she died in 2002 and also starred on stage many times.
During her life, Krook was contacted with many proposals for statues to be built in her honor, but declined them all, saying that statues are cold and uninviting. But the theater wanted a statue after her death, but they did not want to go against her wishes. The theater found a loophole that technically enabled a statue and was in line with Margareta’s wishes: a heated statue (uppvärmd staty).
The statue erected shows Margareta in her favorite costume and has a special coil to heat the statue to a comfortable 37.6 degrees Fahrenheit. The statue was placed in the corner next to the theater in the place where she would smoke her cigarette before the show.
Know Before Going
All year-round, the statue is hot, but in the winter the impact is strongest. The statue is a famous location near the theater and very often attracts embraces and belly rubs.
Järnpojke
From: Stockholm, Sverige
The smallest statue in Stockholm is of a little child gazing at the sky.
JÄRNPOJKE (LITERALLY “JÄRNBARN”) is a small statue that stands in a cemetery in Stockholm’s old town, Gamla Stan. It’s not just a small statue; this 15-centimeter work of art is known as Sweden’s smallest public monument.
Sitting on a small table on a larger metal plate, this charming work of art is loved by the locals. They take care of the boy and adorn him with clothes and items based on current issues or weather. In the winter he usually gets many hand-knitted scarves and hats, while in the summer he sometimes seems to have an umbrella or sunglasses. He is often also surrounded by coins from different countries. This is not for nothing, because it is believed that Iron Boy gives happiness to those who rub his head or give him a small gift.
The church square where the small statue is located is a bit secluded, not very famous for tourists. Even, several individuals frequent Järnpojke who happen to know a local or take a ride that stops by.
The statue, by the Swedish artist Liss Eriksson, was made in 1967. It is said that he had a studio that looked out over the square, and after many years of staying there, he decided to do something to brighten up his vision. The statue (staty) was originally named “The boy who looks at the moon”, but today he is simply known as the Iron Boy.
Wildman
From: Storuman, Sverige
The giant savage club-handling stands proudly as the Swedish Lapland sign.
ASSETS SOME TIME IN STORUMAN you will probably not miss the local savage statue; huge, bright red and swinging his club. He’s legends, this guy. He stands guard in front of Hotell Toppen in the heart of the city.
The savage is considered a heroic figure in the Lapland region of Sweden and Finland. He is depicted on the coat of arms of both provinces, a rough forester with a green wreath around his head and a club resting on his shoulder.
The savage became the official heraldic symbol of Lapland in the 19th century, but a wild, hairy, club-friendly man (and sometimes woman) in the wilderness began to appear in art and literature as early as the end of the Middle Ages. The figure appears throughout Europe on many coats of arms and has long been synonymous with the “uncivilized” North.
The first sign of Lapland’s “savage” can be specifically traced back to the 17th century, when the symbol (but without the red skin) appeared on a coin at the coronation of King Charles IX of Sweden and again at his funeral.
Know Before Going
In the center of Storuman, on the south side of the A12.
Amalia Eriksson Statue
From: Gränna, Sverige
The pioneering Swedish businesswoman created a beloved coin candy called polkagris.
In 1859, a new garment appeared on the market in the small town of Gränna. It was a hard, minty stone candy with whimsical red and white stripes. The candy was called polkagris and soon became known as a delicious Swedish sweet.
The treatment was the work of Amalia Eriksson, a poor woman who became a widow shortly after giving birth to her daughter Ida. Eriksson could not afford proper medicine when his daughter became ill, so she decided to whip up her own. She combined peppermint oil, vinegar, and sugar with the hope that the onion could cure the child’s diseases.
Even though it was not really medical, Erikkson’s creation tasted so good that her daughter willingly chopped it down. This brought an idea to the 35-year-old widow: To support herself and her family, she decided to use her tasty innovation.
Her idea came at a time when women were not allowed to own companies. However, Erikkson was able to successfully request a municipal council to let her open her own bakery and sweet shop. She started selling her mint, which she called “polkagris.” The owner of the company carefully guarded her recipe, which remained a secret until her death.
Although the signature striped red and white confectionery may resemble a candy cane, the vinegar gives a softer, tougher texture than the classic holiday. According to the city’s history, candy cane modeled its stripes according to the design of polkagris.
Polka candy is still a popular candy in Gränna. Visitors to the picturesque mountain town can dive into the many shops selling the striped candy. It is also available in a variety of flavors, including obscure varieties such as violet and salt licorice.
Gränna celebrates its history as the birthplace of Swedish treatment. There is a statue of Erikkson (staty av Erikkson) in one of its parks. The city has even started hosting an annual world championship in polka dots to attract tourists, who have to compete to make a perfect candy that weighs exactly 50 grams.
Know Before Going
Gränna is a small town and it’s easy and comfortable to stroll around, but driving is also okay. In Gränna, there are several candy shops, and they are easy to find. At the intersection of Brahegatan and Parkgränd avenues, the statue of Amalia Eriksson is located.
Also read: Why Decoration Is Needed
Skyddsmantelmadonnan
From: Lund, Sverige
A new, secular twist on a typical theme for the Virgin Mary.
VISITORS FIX YOUR GAZE ON THE impressive towers of the medieval cathedral in Lund, Sweden may not realize it, but 12 small heads closely follow every movement. They are created to represent the future of humanity and peek out from fragmentation in the Sculpture of Madonna sculpture.
Set in bronze and installed in September 2015 at the entrance to Lund Cathedral to commemorate its 870th anniversary. The statue is a work by the Swedish sculptor Lena Lervik, who drew inspiration for the work from the Christian artist motif of the Virgin Mary, which dates back at least as far back as the 13th century. Traditionally, works such as The Protective Cloak Madonna, which translates to “Protective Cloak Madonna”, is a depiction of the Virgin Mary protecting a group of people from various dangers under her extended cloak. There were also Christian religious figures under the protection of Catholic Christianity, such as apostles, saints, and members of religious orders or communities of individuals.
But this very Madonna does not limit her protection to Christians only. Although it stands in front of a Christian cathedral (formerly Catholic, now Lutheran), the work of Lervik is a secular representation that portrays Mary as a figure of the earth who protects all humans, especially, says Lervik, the future of mankind, who “shouts and screams and prefers to stay where.”
Know Before Going
The sculpture is placed outside Lund Cathedral’s western entrance. The bus stop at Lund Domkyrkan only steps away.
Lovikkavanten (Lovikka Mitten Statue)
From: Pajala N, Sverige
The world’s largest knitted mitten is seen in one of the smallest Arctic villages in Sweden.
IN NORTHERN SWEDEN, about 120 km above the Arctic Circle, the small village Lovikka is known for mittens. They have helped the Swedes to avoid frostbite ever since they were first created by a young villager named Erika Aittamaa in 1892.
Lovikka, with a population of only 61, looks like it did in 1892, with one exception: the world’s largest knitted mitten, which sits in a protective wooden and glass window, emerges from the filthy pines along northern route 395.
The mitten is almost 3.5 meters long and is the work of 14 local knitters from the Lovikka Housewives Association. It took just over a month and 50 pounds of wool to finish the job, and in 2000 it received a quote from the Guinness people that it really was the largest knitted glove in the world.
After Erika Aittamaa created the first pair, word spread about the warmth and simple beauty of Lovikka mittens, and she taught other women in the village to do them in the same way. A classic “cottage industry” grew and the gloves were manufactured in larger quantities throughout the 20th century. Recently, the local craft has received a hit from cheaper versions made in large factories abroad, but the small northern village retains the legacy of their special contribution, right there.
Know Before Going
In far northern, mountainous Sweden, the village of Lovikka is about 85 miles southwest of Kiruna and along northern route 395. The big mitten is on your left as you reach the village, entering from the north on the main road. A small museum with information about Erika Aittamaa and her Lovikkavanten is also open.
Greta Garbo Statue of Integrity
From: Härjedalen, Sverige
This statue is all alone, deep in a Swedish forest, just as the famous recluse would have liked.
THIS STATUE OF HOLLYWOOD ICON Greta Garbo has been deliberately installed in an (as yet) undiscovered location deep in a Swedish forest. Just as the big star had wanted — alone and far from the limelight.
The “Statue of Integrity” was created by the Icelandic artist Jón Leifsson as a complement and companion to the exhibition The Image of Garbo at Stockholm’s Museum of Photography, Fotografiska. Garbo was born in 1905 in Stockholm, a city that still loves a factory worker’s daughter and a street sweeper. She would become one of the most famous and rich screen stars of all time and live out her life in Hollywood and then New York City, but she never lost touch with her Swedish roots.
While Garbo was a world-famous beauty and star, listed by the American Film Institute as the fifth greatest female screen legend of all time, she never really embraced her fame. She is as well known for avoiding events, crowds, and fans as for her great film career. Even an honorary Oscar in 1955 could not pull her out of the house without letting actress Nancy Kelly pick it up for her.
So it seems only normal and reasonable that by positioning this memorial statue far from crowds and fans and placing it instead in a hidden part of the thick forest in the province of Härjedalen, surrounded by nothing of trees and birds that do not ask her for her autograph, Fotografiska would respect its dignity and well-known avoidance of people.
Know Before Going
Notice that the address and coordinates of the Statue of Dignity (Staty av Värdighet) given above are not correct. The exact location has not yet been revealed, but it is situated in an area near the Swedish village of Lillhärdal in Härjedalen province. A decent pair of hiking boots, determination, and commitment would be required to find it. The Fotografiska photography museum is located at Stadsgårdshamnen 22, 116 45 Stockholm, Sweden.
Rag and Bone
From: Stockholm, Sverige
This homeless brass fox tugs from the foot of the Stockholm Bridge at your heartstrings.
HUDDLED is a lonely little figure at the foot of the Stockholm Bridge, scarcely visible under a mound of crumpled blankets and quietly pleading for your sympathy. This statue, called “Rag and Bone”, is somehow even sadder to have a fox face.
Since 2008, the helpless little fox has been waiting on the street, asking passers-by to give the reserve a thought for the homeless, and perhaps even a little change. The artwork was created by the British sculptor Laura Ford and was later bought by the city of Stockholm. At first glance, the cool hobo looks like an almost realistic pile of old blankets, but upon further inspection, the sad little fox face is revealed. The figure has nothing but a single boot and its pile of rattan blankets.
The monument was positioned at the intersection of Drottninggatan and Strömgatan, in the center of a city where it can be seen by visitors and the wealthy. Its location was the result of a public vote that wanted the small symbol of poverty to appear to those most in need of a reminder.
Well-liked by both Swedes and tourists, the rag and leg fox are often surrounded by pocket change left at their feet. It may not be the happiest statue in the world (lyckligaste statyn i världen), but while it may make you spend some time on an awkward subject, it undeniably remains a little sweet.
Know Before Going
At the Liljevalchs Art Gallery entry, the monument is no longer there. It is housed in their cellars and will be relocated to its original site, at the intersection of Drottninggatan and Strömgatan, sometime in the future, according to the receptionist.
Walking to Boras
From: Borås, Sverige
A gigantic Pinocchio strolling, who was met with more indignation than whimsy?
AMERICAN ARTIST JIM DINE is best known for his often life-size sculptures of the sculpture that became the real boy Pinocchio, and none of his fairy tale characters are bigger than the one who is right, Walking to Borås, and no one created such a local backlash either.
The tall boy was presented in 2008 after a construction and design bill of over 11 million dollars (USA). Forever in a safe step over the city of Borås in Sweden, Dine’s brass installation outdoors seems to be a welcome part of modern decoration, but the original scream at the figure stopped almost the entire construction. The rich price tag, the suggestion of American exploitation due to the character’s Disney connections, and clearly that the piece had nothing to do with the city of Borås were among the local concerns about the statue (staty). Despite the initial controversy, the statue was voted up by the City Council and stands to this day and extends over public opinion, which is also still divided by the massive wooden boy.