Järnpojke, Stockholm

Järnpojke is a tiny sculpture of a seated boy, tucked into Bollhustäppan behind the Finnish Church in Gamla stan. Liss Eriksson made this public artwork in 1954, and it was installed here in 1967. Its remarkable scale is the story: the figure measures only 15 centimetres, making it Stockholm’s smallest public monument.

The Swedish name Järnpojke is also rendered as Iron Boy, while another familiar name describes him as a boy gazing at the Moon. People passing by sometimes leave coins or gently pat his head for luck. When winter arrives, knitted clothing may appear on him: a hat and scarf made especially for the sculpture. The secluded setting helps explain why this little figure can be easy to miss, despite being only a few metres from Stockholm Palace.