The statue, officially named 'Kvinna vid havet' (Woman by the Sea) but popularly known as 'Sjömanshustrun', stands at Stigbergstorget in Gothenburg, 62 meters above sea level. It was erected in 1934 and created by Ivar Johnsson, according to official sources. The statue serves as a memorial to sailors who died during World War I, and it initially provoked sailors because they were promised unemployment insurance and an eight-hour workday after the war but instead received this monument. The statue's base has 690 names engraved on it, official sources confirm.
The cleaning removed the classic light green patinated surface, giving the statue a darker color temporarily, according to official sources. According to SVT Väst, Fredrik Andersson described that the patina will return relatively quickly due to weather, wind, and sunlight. The cleaning was somewhat difficult due to the statue's high and relatively inaccessible location, official sources said. The statue is made of bronze, a durable material that withstands weather well and does not require much care, according to official sources. According to Aftonbladet, Karl Hellervik described that to his knowledge, she has never been washed before. Aftonbladet reports that the cleaning was done using a crane truck and high-pressure water. It will be a while before the statue gets its next cleaning, according to official sources, and according to SVT Väst, Fredrik Andersson described that it looks good when it gets that green appearance.
We have talked about it for a while and we are up there often for viewings, and then you see that it has become dirty. And then it's time to wash it.
Additional details include that the statue is owned and managed by the property company Higab, according to official sources. The cost of the cleaning project, the specific method or chemicals used, the duration of the cleaning, and the exact darker color the statue has temporarily taken on remain unknown. There are no confirmed plans for regular maintenance or future cleanings.
The patina returns relatively quickly. Weather, wind, and sunlight make the process quite fast.
Statues handle it. It's a very durable material that withstands weather and wind very well and doesn't really need much care.
Well, maybe a little earlier, but it will probably take a while. It looks good when it gets that green appearance.
It was perhaps about time.
To my knowledge, she has never been washed before.
You can't eat stone.