She gazes serenely across the waters. This is the Little Mermaid a Copenhagen icon. She sits perched on a rock a bronze sentinel. Her story is one of enduring fascination a blend of fairytale and reality.
Commissioned in 1909 by Carl Jacobsen the son of the Carlsberg founder the statue was unveiled in 1913. It was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s famous fairy tale and the Royal Theatre’s ballet. The ballerina Ellen Price modeled for the head. Edvard Eriksen’s wife Eline posed for the body. Ellen refused to pose nude.
The Little Mermaid’s small stature belies her impact. She’s a major tourist attraction. She’s also a symbol of Copenhagen. But she has a turbulent history. Repeatedly she’s been vandalized. Her head has been stolen multiple times. Her arm was once sawed off. Paint has been thrown on her. Even explosives were used against her. Yet each time she’s been restored. She endures.
The Little Mermaid’s journey hasn’t been confined to Copenhagen. In 2010 she travelled to Shanghai for the World Expo. A copy stood in for her in Tivoli Gardens. Her travels and her resilience have made her even more iconic.
This unassuming statue is far more than just bronze and granite. She’s a living legend. She’s a testament to enduring beauty and the resilience of the human spirit. She silently witnesses the ebb and flow of the harbour. She’s a captivating reminder of a classic tale. She’s the Little Mermaid of Copenhagen.