Folkungabrunnen, Historic fountain at Stora Torget, Linköping, Sweden
Folkungabrunnen is a fountain on Stora torget in Linköping, made by Carl Milles between 1924 and 1927. Its long, narrow basin is cut from diabase, and on a round plinth sits Folke Filbyter in green-patinated bronze, on horseback. Water runs from two large rectangular basins into the pool, whose rim carries reliefs from Östergötland's and the Folkung dynasty's history as told by Verner von Heidenstam.
Carl Milles won the 1924 competition with his proposal "Saga och forntid" and built the fountain by 1927, drawing on Verner von Heidenstam's Folkungaträdet novels. It was unveiled on 12 December 1927 at 5 pm on Stora torget, with schoolchildren and soldiers lined up along the square. The work was funded by the Westman foundation, and Milles received 100,000 kronor.
The basin displays relief carvings showing important moments and people from Östergötland's past. These detailed scenes tell regional stories that you can discover as you walk around the fountain.
This fountain sits at the center of Stora Torget and works well as a reference point when exploring Linköping's downtown area. It is easy to reach and visible from all directions across the square, making it simple to find your way around.
Milles gave a 1:1 plaster copy of Folke Filbyter to his friend Verner von Heidenstam, and it stands in the author's home Övralid. The fountain was also produced for Sweden's pavilion at the 1939 New York World's Fair.
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