Thursday 4 September 2008

Hämeensilta Bridge


Postmarked Tampere, dated 19 August 2008.

Hämeensilta - Hämeensilta Bridge, Tampere, Finland.

From the message on the card:
These are the four statues standing at the Hämeensilta bridge in my home city Tampere. They were made by sculptor Wäinö Aaltonen in 1927-1929. They are one of the landmarks in Tampere but I think we living here far too seldom notice them when we cross the bridge .... but nevertheless we love them.
The four statues are Maiden of Finland, Tax Collector, Huntsman and Merchant. The Maiden and Huntsman are fairly obvious I think. The Merchant I believe is the one with the outstretched hand, carrying I don't know what, so that leaves the other as the Tax Collector. I haven't been able to find any explanation of the symbolism.

I wonder if the people in Tampere have nicknames for the statues or use them as meeting points. Once upon a time when I was a student in Liverpool we used to sing "In my Liverpool home" (can be heard on YouTube)
In my Liverpool home, in my Liverpool home
We speak with an accent exceedingly rare
We meet under a statue exceedingly bare.
If you want a cathedral, we've got one to spare,
In my Liverpool home.
Those were the days. The statue where we met was fondly known as Phred, over the Lewis's department store. I've just checked and he's still there. I'd love to find a postcard of him, if any exist.

2 comments:

  1. i've been to Tampere twice this year. once in the city center. but not sure if we passed by Hämeensilta Bridge.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It looks like a place you would notice with those handsome statues. Perhaps not, if it's busy.

    ReplyDelete

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