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Stork Fountain

Stork Fountain is located in Amagertorv in the center of Copenhagen, Denmark. It was a gift to Crown Prince Frederick, later Frederick VIII, and Princess Louise on the occasion of their silver wedding anniversary in 1894. The fountain shows three storks poised to depart. Its design includes a nine-sided stone basin that collects water from a bronze bowl above, with three small cascades around the edges of a central pedestal. The pedestal is decorated with reliefs of aquatic plants and water jets, and one section features three large birds each turning in a different direction. Since 1950, it has been a tradition to dance around the fountain.

Stork Fountain with green-patinaed bird figures in a Copenhagen city square
The Stork Fountain stands in a paved Copenhagen square, with bird figures around a central basin as water cascades below.
© · CC0
Stork Fountain with three bird sculptures above a bronze bowl in a Copenhagen square.
The Stork Fountain stands in Amagertorv, a central square in Copenhagen.
© · CC BY 2.0
Stork Fountain with three bird sculptures and cascading water in Copenhagen.
The Stork Fountain in Copenhagen, with three storks perched above the lower basin.
May 2016 © · CC BY-SA 2.0
Stork Fountain in a busy city square with a dark basin and three bird figures around the central column.
The Stork Fountain stands in the middle of a lively city square, with bird figures rising above its central pedestal.
© · Public domain
A bronze frog on a weathered stone column spouts water, with café tables and people blurred in the background.
A bronze frog fountain detail at Stork Fountain, with people and café seating visible behind it.
September 2014 © · CC BY 2.0

Identification

TitleStork Fountain
Original nameStorkespringvandet
TypeFountain sculpture

Historical context

Commissioned bySociety for the Beautification of Copenhagen (Association for Beautifying the Capital)
Founded1885
Competition announced1888
PurposeA fountain on the prominent square, intended as a gift from the city to Crown Prince Frederik (later Frederick VIII) and Crown Princess Louise of Sweden for their silver wedding anniversary in 1894
Gift recipientCrown Prince Frederik (later Frederick VIII) and Crown Princess Louise of Sweden
OccasionTheir silver wedding anniversary in 1894

Creator

SculptorVilhelm Bissen
Winning designersEdvard Petersen and Vilhelm Bissen

Location and ownership

Legal statusListed monument
LocationAmagertorv, central Copenhagen, Denmark

Discovery and provenance

Other competition entryDragon Fountain by Thorvald Bindesbøll and Joakim Skovgaard
Other entry locationInstalled on Rådhuspladsen (City Hall Square) instead
Another proposed designA fountain depicting a merry Amager farmer sitting on a cabbagehead, proposed by Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint

History and restoration

Experiment dateEarly 2009
Demolition threatFictitious; there was no real threat of demolition
Members after two weeks27,000
Supporters after one week10,000
Creator of protest groupAnders Colding-Jørgensen, lecturer from the University of Copenhagen
Associated eventA fictitious 2009 Facebook protest group against its demolition, created as a classroom experiment on viral communication, slacktivism, and social media
Popular as a meeting placeDuring the late 1960s, the fountain became a popular meeting place for members of the protest movements
TraditionSince 1950, newly graduated midwives dance around the fountain
Inauguration date1894
Associated protest songCæsar's protest song "Storkespringvandet" about police brutality, with lyrics by Thøger Olesen and tune based on the Scottish nursery rhyme "Ally Bally Bee" ("Coulter's Candy")

Physical characteristics

Basin decorationAlternating groups of three water-spouting frogs sitting on leaves and three shell forms
Bird identificationThe birds are storks, not herons
Upper bowl featureA fountain bowl above from which cattails grow
Intermediate decorationMotifs of reed plants
Pedestal decorationReliefs of aquatic plants
Main figure postureWith outstretched wings, appearing to take flight
Main figuresThree storks
StructureA multi-part column rises from the basin
Base shapeHexagonal
Basin shapeNonagonal

Materials

Basin materialStone
Base materialGranite
Upper bowl materialBronze
Intermediate element materialBronze

Appearance

Water featureWater collects from the bronze bowl at the top and flows through three small cascades around the edges of the central pedestal; frogs also spout water from the basin decoration
Plant motifsReed plants and cattails are used as decorative elements
DepictionThree storks about to set off, each in a different direction

Significance

Bird identification legendA common urban legend says the birds depicted are herons