A wooden figure raising funds for the needy…

Gubben Rosenbom, a well-known wooden figure in Karlskrona, Sweden, has been standing outside the Admiralty Church since the mid 18th century, serving as a poor box for charity donations.

Gubben Rosenbom, or Old Man Rosenbom, is considered Karlskrona's most famous resident and a beloved landmark. The figure represents a symbol of generosity and aid to the poor, symbolizing the precarious vulnerability of naval workers in 18th-century Karlskrona. The statue serves as a collection point for charitable donations, but the historical record does not confirm details of Rosenbom's life and whether he actually lived in 18th-century Karlskrona.

The classical Rosenbom tale is one of a sailor named Mats Hindriksson Rosenbom, who emigrated from Åland to the new naval city in 1679, but historical records do not confirm these details.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

A wooden figure raising funds for the needy since the 18th century

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