The Little Mermaid (statue) facts for kids
| Den lille Havfrue | |
Little mermaid in the mirror. This is a work of art, showing the statue in the mirror. It is located in a museum near Kopenhagen
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| Location | Copenhagen, Denmark |
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| Designer | Edvard Eriksen |
| Type | Statue |
| Material | Bronze |
| Opening date | August 23, 1913 |
The Little Mermaid is a famous statue in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is based on a well-known fairy tale by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. The story is also called The Little Mermaid.
This small statue is a special symbol of Copenhagen. Many tourists visit it every year. It has been a major attraction since it was first shown in 1913. The statue is about 1.25 metres (4.1 ft) tall. A sculptor named Edvard Eriksen created the statue from bronze.
The Little Mermaid is an iconic statue. This means it is a very famous symbol of its city. Other statues that symbolize cities include:
- Pania of the Reef in Napier
- Manneken Pis in Brussels
- The Statue of Liberty in New York
- Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro
History of the Little Mermaid Statue
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The idea for the statue came from Carl Jacobsen in 1909. He was the son of the person who started Carlsberg, a famous company. Carl Jacobsen loved a ballet show about the Little Mermaid fairy tale. He saw it at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen.
He asked the ballerina, Ellen Price, to be the model for the statue. The sculptor Edvard Eriksen then made the bronze statue. It was first shown to the public on August 23, 1913.
Traveling Statue and Protection
In 2010, the statue traveled to Shanghai, China. The Copenhagen City Council allowed it to be moved for the Expo 2010. This was the first time the statue had officially left its spot in almost 100 years.
While the original statue was in Shanghai, a copy was placed in Copenhagen. This copy was displayed in the nearby Tivoli Gardens. Officials in Copenhagen have thought about moving the statue. They considered moving it further into the harbor. This would help protect it from damage. It would also stop tourists from climbing on it. However, the statue is still in its original spot by the water at Langelinie.
See also
In Spanish: La Sirenita (escultura) para niños
