Kagmanden, Wooden statue in Tønder, Denmark
Kagmanden is a wooden statue in Tønder's marketplace portraying a bailiff figure carved from a substantial oak trunk. The sculpture serves as a central landmark on the square and stands out for its size and craftsmanship.
The original sculpture from 1699 was eventually moved to Tønder Museum, with a new statue erected in 1993 for the city's 750th anniversary celebration. This renewal connected the town's distant past with its modern identity.
The statue represents the memory of a place where the community once enforced punishment and exile. It now stands at the heart of the marketplace, serving as a reminder of the town's former authority over residents.
The statue stands on the marketplace and is accessible year-round without admission fees. The square becomes especially busy during the annual Christmas market running from November through December if you plan to visit during those months.
Creating the work required extraordinary effort: a team of eight men and six horses was needed to transport the massive oak trunk to the work site. This reveals how much the town invested in resources for this artistic project.
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