Didn’t this location once spark controversy? Here we are before the story of Thorfinn Karlsefni Statue. It stood for nearly a century along the Schuylkill River. The Thorfinn Karlsefni Statue is a bronze sculpture of the Norse explorer Thorfinn Karlsefni. Icelandic sculptor Einar Jónsson created it. The Fairmount Park Art Association commissioned the artwork. Joseph Bunford Samuel provided the funds. His wife, Ellen Phillips Samuel, bequeathed the money. She wanted a series of sculptures emblematic of American history.
Thorfinn Karlsefni was an Icelander. He was said to have visited America around 1004. Little was known about him except what was written in the Saga of Eric the Red. Einar Jónsson strived to capture the Viking spirit. He created an idealized portrait of the explorer. No known images of Thorfinn existed.
The Thorfinn Karlsefni Statue was unveiled on November 20, 1920. It was placed near the designated site for the Samuel Memorial. The statue stood 7 feet 4 inches tall on a large granite base.
Thorfinn Karlsefni means “makings of a man”. He followed Leif Eriksson to Vinland around 1010. Thorfinn attempted to establish a permanent settlement. He brought his wife Gudrid Thorbjarnardóttir and their followers. Gudrid bore Thorfinn a son named Snorri in Vinland. Snorri was the first child of European descent born in the New World.
The Thorfinn Karlsefni Statue became a rallying point for white supremacy groups in the 21st century. This led to counter protests and vandalism. In October 2018, vandals toppled the statue. It was dragged into the Schuylkill River. The head broke off from the body. A crane was needed to remove the several-thousand-pound statue from the river. As of 2020, the statue was being conserved. The City of Philadelphia considered the appropriation of the statue by hate groups. No timeline was set for its reinstallation.
There is another casting of the Thorfinn Karlsefni Statue in Reykjavík, Iceland. The inscriptions on the Philadelphia statue read the sculptor’s name and dates. It also included Icelandic verses on the shield. The base displayed Thorfinn Karlsefni’s name, origin, and dates. A plaque mentioned Leif Ericson’s discovery and Thorfinn’s settlement. It noted the birth of his son Snorri in North America. The Leif Ericson Society of Pennsylvania and the Scandinavian Craft Club of Philadelphia dedicated the plaque.
Today, the Thorfinn Karlsefni Statue remains in storage. Its future is uncertain. The story of Thorfinn Karlsefni reminds us of the complexities of history. It shows how a monument can become entangled with controversy. It also underscores the importance of public art. Public art reflects our past and shapes our present.