Statues - Hither & Thither |
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London
London Greater London Cockspur Street 21-24 (SW1)
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Saint Olave and Norwegian economic activitiesOlaf II Haraldsson (c. 995 - 1030), later known as St. Olaf (and traditionally as St. Olave),King of Norway from 1015 to 1028 (Wikipedia) |
Louis F. Roslyn & Gustav Lærum
1914-22 |
The building was built around 1915 and refronted in the 1920s by the architects Goldsmith and Westbye, who added sculptural adornment.
Norwegian House was opened 29 December 1921 by King Haakon of Norway. It housed the Travel Bureau of the Norwegian State Railways, the Norwegian Legation, the Norwegian Chamber of Commerce, the Norwegian Industries Exhibition and Hambros Bank.
Presently there is a Thai restaurant.
Above the entrance is a niche with a statue of Saint Olave, King of Norway, wearing armour and helm, his hands on the hilt of his down-pointing sword, and a wide cloak held below the neck, spreading out to reveal a prominent cross on his chest. Below him is the coat-of-arms of Norway.
At the second flour are four reliefs from the original decoration of the building, representing the instutions in the house. They are sculpted by L.F. Roselieb:
 Hambros Bank: male figure weighing coinage and holding a money bag, frieze of Egyptian and Assyrian traders above). |
 Travel Bureau of the Norwegian State Railways: female figure holding a steam train, with two ships in the background; part-hidden globe below. |
 Norwegian Industries Exhibition: sitting female figure with a factory in the background. |
 Norwegian Chamber of Commerce: Mercurius, holding globe and aesculapeian staff; Viking ship above, corn below. |
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