Art - The Watchman

Artists: Karl Dahl, R. Christensen, Ivar Sjaastad 1997. 

In the southwest corner of the market square, we find Vekteren (the Watchman), a gift from the insurance company Gjensidige to the city of Trondheim in connection with the city's millennium anniversary. The insurance company has used the watchman as it symbol since the 1930s, and similar figures can be found in several locations in Norway. The sketch of the figure and the company logo is said to have been made by the book printer Emil Moestue. The drawing was made by Karl Dahl and the sculpture was modelled by R. Christensen. The sculptor Ivar Sjaastad adapted their drafts to make a large bronze figure. The watchman was a characteristic feature of urban nightlife from the Middle Ages and onward. The job of watchmen was retired in 1873 and taken over by the police. The watchman was very easily recognizable with his red coat and hat with earflaps. Equipped with a long staff with spikes, a so-called Morningstar or mace, and a large lantern, his duty was to keep order and guard against fire.