Twelve Jacob's Ladders
The 12 Jacob´s Ladders by Bjørn Nørgaard are eight and ten meters high cast iron light columns at Nørreport in Holstebro. There are lights on five of the 12 pillars. Some have glass domes that reflects light from cars, the sun, the stars and the moon. 12 is a symbolic number: The year has 12 months, there are 12 signs in the zodiac and there were 12 tribes in ancient Israel.
The sculpture 12 Jacob's Ladders are from 1998 by Bjørn Nørgaard. These are 12 eight and ten meters high light stanchions made of cast iron at Nørreport. They were a gift to the town from iron foundry Valdemar Birn A/S.
There are lights on five of the twelve stanchions, and all have glass domes designed to reflect the existing light from cars, the sun, stars and the moon.
The number 12 is very symbolic: It corresponds to the 12 months of the year, 12 signs of the zodiac, and there was to the 12 tribes of Israel. The number 12 unite the divine number 3, the Trinity, with the earthly number 4 representing the 4 elements, and the 4 corners of the world. The stanchions are made of the same elements, and could, in principle, continue indefinitely.
Bjørn Nørgaard has also created the sculpture Citizens of Holstebro, who also stands on the square, as well as the three art circles in the pedestrian street Nørregade: The Hand of Jesus, the Source of Life and Odin's Eye.
Join us for a free city tour of the art in Holstebro center on Wednesday in July and August at 1 pm in English with the start from Woman on Cart by Alberto Giacometti in front of The Old Town Hall in Holstebro. Read more about the city walks here.