According to the City of Helsinki, the Havis Amanda will be moved for repairs after Christmas. The statue has been worn down during popular festivities, among other things, with revelers climbing on it.
The Havis Amanda statue on the edge of Helsinki’s Kauppatori square will be moved after Christmas to be conserved as part of the renovation of the fountain and its surroundings, the City of Helsinki said in a press release.
The statue has been worn, among other things, during popular festivals, when celebrants have climbed on it. In addition, the surface of the sculpture has been worn away by the maritime climate.
According to the city, the statue will be varnished and May Day will be celebrated as usual this spring.
On the other hand, if Finland wins, for example, the ice hockey World Cup gold at the end of May, the folk festival cannot be celebrated in the traditional way together with Havis Amanda.
Repair work takes a long time
The area around the fountain will be fenced off after May Day. The female figure and the sea lions on the edge of the fountain will be removed and moved for conservation in early May.
Cracks and holes in the bronze are repaired and patinated. In addition, the conservator performs comprehensive surface conservation for the bronze parts.
The water pool and foundations of the statue will also be renovated. The depressions in the square’s surface will be repaired and the traditional stonework will be restored at the end of the renovation work.
At the same time, the technology of the fountain and the related piping will be renovated. Excavations are carried out under the supervision of an archaeologist due to the possible discovery of ancient remains.
A permanent lifting place will be built on the square for the cranes used in painting and maintenance of the work.
The duration of the repair of the fountain square depends on possible archaeological excavations. The repair work will tentatively last until August 2024.
Havis Amanda belongs to the art collection of the city of Helsinki, which is managed by the Helsinki Art Museum.
However, Helsinki’s urban environment department is responsible for technical maintenance, including water systems.