Who sculpted Copenhagen’s original Little Mermaid statue, unveiled in 1913?

Edvard Eriksen sculpted Copenhagen’s original Little Mermaid statue, unveiled in 1913.

The bronze statue stands on a rock by the Langelinie promenade in Copenhagen. It was commissioned by brewer Carl Jacobsen, who became interested in the figure after seeing a ballet based on Andersen’s tale. Eriksen created the sculpture, which became one of Denmark’s most recognizable landmarks.

The statue is frequently confused with the author himself or with Danish sculptors Bertel Thorvaldsen and Vilhelm Bissen. Andersen wrote the fairy tale, but he did not design or sculpt the monument. Carl Jacobsen was the commissioner, not the sculptor.

The statue has been damaged and vandalized several times, including incidents involving paint, removal of the head, and removal of an arm. Despite these attacks, the landmark has been restored repeatedly and remains closely associated with Copenhagen and Andersen’s international reputation.