#historienshus: Thor on Næsbyvej
One of the biggest sculptures in Odense is located outside Glud and Marstrand, the former Haustrup Fabrikker on Næsbyvej. The sculpture has a wonderful history: in the old Næsbyhoved Lake, where the large factory complex later came to be, there was originally a small island with the name Thorslund – a name that points back to Pagan times, when Thor was one of the most famous gods in Nordic mythology. The Nordic god world was in focus in the 1800s and it also inspired the artists of the time. Sculptor C.J. Bonnesen (1868-1933) was on the wave early and made a number of works characterized by violent movement and bold composition. Bonnesen returned to Thor at the end of world war I, when he got an order from businessman Harald Plum, who had bought the island of Thorø at Assens. Rumor has it that Thor once lived on the island. Bonnesen worked for almost four years modelling the sculpture group, and afterwards, almost the same time passed with the casting in bronze at a foundry in Nørrebro in Copenhagen. On 3 July 1926 the sculpture could be revealed at Thorø’s highest point – and in the best Harald Plum style it didn’t go away. Hundreds of guests were ferried to the island with the steamer Alexandrine, and literature
professor Hans Brix made a speech at the unveiling. After Harald Plum’s own death in 1929 Thorø was sold and in 1957 the Thor sculpture was
bought by director N.J. Haustrup. The moving itself was a huge task. Among other things, it was necessary to cut Thor himself free with the hammer and transport it separately – otherwise the sculpture would not be able to pass the obstacles on the road from Thorøhuse to Odense. The transport took place on slippery roads at night. Soon the sculpture was put back together and placed at Thorslund, and at the same occasion Thors hammer, Mjølner, got a new coating with gold leaf. There was style above the enterprise. A few years later, consul Haustrup wanted the monument raised, so it could be better seen in the area.
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