High above the bustling Copenhagen City Hall Square stands a magnificent monument. It is the Lur Blowers a towering bronze sculpture. Two figures stand close together each holding a lur a long ancient horn.
The Lur Blowers weren’t always a pair. The original design featured just one lur blower. But lurs are always played in pairs. So the design changed. The final sculpture is a testament to this musical tradition. The monument was a gift. It was a gift to Copenhagen from the Carlsberg Foundation. This was to celebrate the centenary of J C Jacobsen’s birth the founder of Carlsberg.
The Lur Blowers stand atop a tall terracotta column. This column is 20 meters high. The column is inscribed with J C JACOBSEN CARLSBERG 1811 22 SEPTEMBER 1911. It includes a circular bench at its base a nice place to rest and admire the sculpture.
This magnificent monument wasn’t the first idea. A similar monument was initially proposed around 1890. It was to be placed on the new City Hall Square. The initial plan featured Heimdallr figures with gjallarhorns. A mock-up was even built in 1901. It stood before the Central Hotel. It only lasted briefly though. The idea was eventually abandoned.
Later at the 1909 Aarhus exhibition another lur blower monument appeared. This one was temporary built of wood and designed by Anton Rosen. It was a precursor to the permanent Lur Blowers we see today.
The final Lur Blowers project involved the renowned sculptor Siegfried Wagner. He crafted the bronze figures. Anton Rosen designed the column. The monument was finally inaugurated in 1914 a lasting tribute to Copenhagen’s history and musical heritage. The Lur Blowers are more than just a sculpture. They are a piece of Copenhagen’s history. They are a symbol of its cultural richness. They are a testament to the enduring spirit of innovation and artistic expression. They are a must-see for every visitor to Copenhagen.