On 23 August 2013, it will be exactly 100 years to the day since the statue of the Little Mermaid first graced the rocks at Langelinie in Copenhagen. Ever since then, she has looked out over the city, wistfully gazing at the human world she dreams of joining.

Just beforethe actual centenary, Post Danmark is issuing a stamp featuring the world-renowned sculpture, which welcomes thousands upon thousands of tourists to Copenhagen Harbour every year. the stamp, which is based on a photograph, was drawn and engraved by Martin Morck.

Lost her Head Twice
The Little Mermaid was sculpted by Edvard Eriksen, whose beautiful wife Eline posed as his model. It was cast by the Carl N.G Rasmussen, bronze caster by appointment to the Royal Danish Court, in Copenhagen, and then mounted on its rock on Langelinie – all at the expense of the founder of the Carlsberg brewery, Carl Jacobsen, who gave the statue to the capital as a gift.

During her long life, teh staue of the Little Mermaid has been vandalised several times. She has lost her head twice – once it never reappeared, the other time it was reattached after it was foung in a car park.

She has also been daubed with paint several times and had her arm sawn off. Plaster-cast copies are kept on hand in case repairs are needed, and so that she can continue to greet tourists at Langelinie.

On Show in Shanghai
The Little Mermaid has only travelled abroad once. In April 2010, she spent a few months in Shanghai at EXPO 2010. During her sojourn in China, a screen was set up on Langelinie in Copahagen showing a livefeed of the statue.

By the time she returned to Langelinie six months later, 5.5 millions people has seen her at EXPO 2010, which helped to enhance cultural dialogue between the two countries and raise Denmark’s profile in China. The Mermaid’s visit was covered by more than 1,000 Chinese media outlets, as well as newspapers all over the world – from the New York Times to the Malaysia Star.

Mermaids All Over the World
The Little Mermaid is considered one of Denmark’s greatest national treasures, but in fact she can be seen elsewhere around the world.

Source: WOPA

published June 21st, 2013