The sculpture, which stands almost three metres tall, depicts the one-legged tin soldier from Andersen's famous fairy tale. Rather than being placed on a traditional plinth, the figure stands on a pull wagon, giving the work a playful character while highlighting the soldier's origins as a toy.

What makes the sculpture special?

Eiler Madsen did not simply set out to illustrate Andersen's fairy tale. He also wanted to capture Andersen's unique ability to bring everyday objects and toys to life through his stories. Reflecting on the sculpture, Madsen explained that he aimed to continue the idea found throughout Andersen's work, where ordinary objects are given spirit, personality and a life of their own.

As a result, the tin soldier does not appear as a conventional heroic figure. Standing on a pull wagon, he feels both more approachable and more faithful to the story's origins as a toy. Smaller soldiers surrounding the main figure add further details to discover and reinforce the connection to Andersen's fairy tale world.

Part of H.C. Andersen's Odense

The Steadfast Tin Soldier was the seventh fairy tale sculpture to be installed in Odense as part of the city's efforts to celebrate its connection to Hans Christian Andersen. Donated by the Aslaug and Carl Friis Foundation, it has become a natural stop on a walk through Andersen's Odense.

The sculpture is located in the city's historic quarter, within easy walking distance of H.C. Andersen's House, the charming streets around Overgade and several of Odense's other fairy tale sculptures. This makes The Steadfast Tin Soldier a worthwhile stop when exploring the part of the city where Andersen's stories continue to leave their mark on the urban landscape.