Poor man-statues / Estatuas de pobre hombre / Statues de Pauvre Homme
In English:
History of carved wooden poor-man statues (pauper sculptures) and poor-woman statue.
There are 107 poor man statues and one poor woman statue.
When driving around on countryside and taking photos from churches I found some peculiar statues beside churches or bell towers. They were men or women and always their hand or foot was missing, but anyway those statues looked fine. When examining them more closely I found hole in them. Then I realized that one can put coins into slot and inside there is box. Why these boxes / wooden poor-man / wooden beggar-statues were set up, when?
All this begins 1649 when Christina, Queen of Sweden gave order to make poor logs and put them beside church doors, bell towers or some public places. Soon those poor-logs were modified to poor-man statues by local artists in Finland. In that time Finland was under administration of Sweden. In Europe wars raged around and many soldiers wounded in them losing their foot or arm. When wounded in this way they had to return to their home.
In the 1700, 1800 and 1900 century people was very poor, but they visited church every Sunday faithfully, so the natural place for those poor-man statues was beside churches or bell towers. Maybe these poor-man statues helped most poor, but no statistics remains of course.
This post goes this way: First I present four churches and then photos from poor man statues.
En español:
Historia de pobres hombres tallada en madera y la estatua estatua de pobrecita mujer.
Hay 107 estatuas de pobre hombres y una estatua de pobrecita mujer.
Al manejar mi carro alrededor en mi país, sacando fotos de las iglesias he encontrado algunas estatuas raras al lado de iglesias o campanarios. Ellos eran hombres o mujeres, y siempre sus mano o el pie había desaparecido, pero de todos modos esos estatues veía bien. Al examinar más de cerca encontré un hueco en ellos. Entonces entendí que se puede poner dinero en el hueco y dentro hay una cajita. ¿Por qué estos cajas / estatuas en madera de pobre hombres mendigos, se han creado, ¿cuándo?
Todo esto empieza en 1649 cuando la reina Cristina de Suecia dio la orden para hacer los leños de los pobres y ponerlos al lado de las puertas de las iglesias, campanarios o algunos lugares públicos. Pronto los leños de los pobres fueron modificados para estatuas de pobre hombre par artistas locales en Finlandia. En ese tiempo Finlandia estaba bajo la administración de Suecia. En Europa guerras devastó todos partes en Europa y muchos soldados heridos mismos perdiendo su pie o el brazo. Cuando heridos de esta manera ellos tuvieron que regresar a su casa.
En el 1700, 1800 y 1900 la gente del siglo era muy pobre, pero ellos visitaron la iglesia todos los domingos fielmente, así el lugar natural para esas estatuas pobres-el hombre estaba fue junto a iglesias o campanarios. Tal vez estas estatuas de pobres hombres ayudó a los más pobres, por supuesto, no existen estadicas.
Este post va de esta manera: Primero presento cuatro iglesias y después las fotos de estatuas pobres hombres.
En francais:
Histoire de statues sculptées en bois de pauvre-homme et de pauvre-femme statue.
Il ya 107 statues de pauvre-hommes et une statue pauvre femme.
Lorsque je conduisais autour dans mon pays pour prendre des photos des églises sur la campagne, j’ai trouvé quelques statues particulières à côté des églises ou des campaniles. Ils étaient des hommes ou des femmes et dont toujours la main ou le pied les manquait, mais de toute façon ces statues avaient l’air si bien. Lorsque en examinant les de plus près, j’ai trouvé une fente. Puis j’ai réalisé que l’on peut mettre des pièces à l’intérieur dans la fente du bûche. Pourquoi ces pauvres bûches / pauvre-homme de bois / bois statues mendiants ont été mis en place, quand?
Tout cela commence 1649 quand Christine de Suède a donné l’ordre de faire les pauvres bûches et de les mettre à côté des portes d’église, clochers ou de certains lieux publics. Bientôt ces pauvres bûches ont été modifiés pour homme pauvres statues par des artistes locaux en Finlande. En ce moment la Finlande était sous l’administration de la Suède. Les guerres faisaient rage autour de l’Europe et nombreux soldats blessés ont perdu le pied ou le bras. Lorsque blessés de cette façon ils devaient retourner à leur domicile.
Dans les années 1700, 1800 et 1900 les gens était très pauvres, mais ils ont visité l’église chaque dimanche fidèlement, de sorte que, le lieu naturel pour ces statues de pauvres-hommes était à côté des églises ou des campaniles. Peut-être ces statues de pauvres-hommes ont aidé les plus pauvres, mais des statistiques, ils existent pas bien sûr.
Mon poste va dans cette façon: Premièrement je présente quatre églises et puis et à la fin les photos de statues de pauvre hommes.
Alajärvi (photos / fotos 2007):
Church built 1836 / Iglesia construida 1836 / Église construite 1836
Belltower built 1842 / Campanario construido 1842 / Clocher construit 1842
Height of Poor-man statue 133cm (4 feet and 4.4 inches) / Altura de estatua de pobre hombre 133cm / Hauteur de statue de pauvre Homme 133cm. Statue from decades 1830 / Estatua de los años 1830 / Statue dans les années 1830.
Juupajoki (photos / fotos 2006):
Church built 1838-1846 / Iglesia construida 1838-1846 / Église construite 1838-1846
Belltower built 1842 / Campanario construido 1842- / Clocher construite 1842-
Height of Poor-man statue 101cm (3 feet and 3.8 inches) / Altura de estatua de pobre hombre 101cm / Hauteur de statue de pauvre Homme 101cm. Statue from decades 1830 / Estatua de los años 1830 / Statue dans les années 1830.
Kuortane (photos / fotos 2007):
Church built 1777 / Iglesia construida 1777 / Église construite 1777
Belltower built 1837 / Campanario construido 1837/ Clocher construite 1837
Height of Poor-man statue 120cm (3 feet and 11.2 inches) / Altura de estatua de pobre hombre 120cm / Hauteur de statue de pauvre Homme 120cm. Statue from? / Estatua de ? / Statue de l’an de?
Oravainen (photos / fotos 2006):
Church built 1797 / Iglesia construida 1797 / Église construite 1797
Belltower built 1927 / Campanario construido 1927 / Clocher construite 1927
Height of Poor-man statue 142cm (4 feet and 7.9 inches) / Altura de estatua de pobre hombre 142cm / Hauteur de statue de pauvre Hommer 142cm. Statue from? / Estatua de ? / Statue de l’an de?
Poor-man statues 1 / Estatuas de pobre hombre 1 / Statues de Pauvre Homme 1
Poor-man statues 3 / Estatuas de pobre hombre 3 / Statues de Pauvre Homme 3

























































Wonderful architecture inside and out, Sartenada, of these pristine churches. The story of the poor-man stuatues is most fascinating. I would want to go around and collect pictures of them all!
Comment by Ginnie — January 11, 2013 @ 09:09 |
Hi Ginnie.
I am very glad that You love the story also. My photos are not so great, because I took them using my pocket camera and that is why they are so many years old. After few post newer photos will come. Thank You very much for Your visit and leaving Your comment.
Have a great day!
Comment by Sartenada — January 11, 2013 @ 09:15 |
I love all the architecture that you share and the history – it is wonderful to be able to see these photos of places I know I will never get to see in person. Learning of the “poor man” statues is intriguing, I had never heard of this. Thank you so much for posting all these fascinating pieces
Comment by Karen — January 11, 2013 @ 14:48 |
Hi Karen.
Thank You. My mind sings when reading Your comment. To me these statues are important, I love them and my posts are maybe first serious attempt to present half of them. It is also interesting to make observations about which kind of historic clothes they wear.
Have a lovely day!
Comment by Sartenada — January 11, 2013 @ 15:30 |
How interesting! I’ve never heard of these statues. Thanks for sharing a bit of your culture! I learned something new today. By the way, I think the two older churches are the prettiest.
Comment by Ana (Ana Travels) — January 11, 2013 @ 15:16 |
Thank You Ana.
How nice that You did visit my blog and left Your nice comment here. The fact is that these Poor-man statues are inside info about Finland. I have not met a travel guide in which they are presented.
Have a great day.
Comment by Sartenada — January 11, 2013 @ 15:25 |
What a nice follow-up to your earlier post, and just as beautiful. The architecture of your featured churches is so pretty and detailed, and I love the warm tones of the paint colors.
Have a wonderful day!
Elisa
Comment by elisaruland — January 11, 2013 @ 15:58 |
Hello Elisa.
Thank You very much commenting my post and at same time continuing to follow my series. I do not know if You noticed that there is one church which has octagonal architecture. Not so general, I presume.
I wish happy day to You also.
Matti.
Comment by Sartenada — January 11, 2013 @ 17:46 |
I enjoyed seeing more of these poor man statues and the churches to which they belong. All of the churches are beautiful, but I was especially attracted by the octagonal church at Juupajoki. I’ve never before seen a church with that design, but it is very appealing both inside and out.
Comment by seniorhiker — January 11, 2013 @ 18:09 |
Hi George.
Isn’t a great joy to find new thing in our world? Thank You giving Your time for a visit and to leave Your comment here.
Happy week-end!
Comment by Sartenada — January 12, 2013 @ 09:40 |
The churches that you have there are so beautiful; they are real treasures! I can see why you like to photograph them. I agree with Karen, it is wonderful to see photos of places that I will probably never be able to visit and things that I will never be able to see in person.
Comment by montucky — January 11, 2013 @ 19:46 |
Hi Terry.
Thank You for Your complimenting comment. Well, You are welcome here to learn more from my country including some hiking. I might be Your chauffeur.
Happy week-end!
Comment by Sartenada — January 12, 2013 @ 09:45 |
Beautiful shots of the churches and the poor men/woman statues. It’s really nice to learn about the history. Never seen anything like this here. I think it’s wonderful that the Queen wanted to help her people.
Comment by Lisa at fLVE — January 11, 2013 @ 20:23 |
Hello Lisa.
Your comment made me happy. Thank You. Personally I love history, because thru it we can learn more from ourselves and thus to understand better our modern life.
Have a great week-end!
Comment by Sartenada — January 12, 2013 @ 09:49 |
The churches are very colorful and beautiful. I think the statues are very interesting and I am very happy that you photo them for us.
Comment by Northern Narratives — January 11, 2013 @ 21:40 |
Hello Northern Narratives.
I am glad that You followed my presentation of Poor-man statues. Sometimes churches are quite similar, sometimes not. It might be due to it that they are from same period or their architect is same. In our history we have had few famous, I mean famous here, church builders and their touch is recognizable when making a visit a church.
Happy week-end!
Comment by Sartenada — January 12, 2013 @ 09:57 |
Another great collection, Matti! My favorite is the one with the angel wings. The ones with hands outstretched all had such piercing eyes. I guess that helped encourage people to put coins in the slots. Even tho the photos are old and not shot with your current cameras, they still show your great eye for color and detail. Happy weekend! Janet
Comment by Heart To Harp — January 11, 2013 @ 23:28 |
Hi Janet.
Lovely comment. I appreciate it. I am not sure, but in some cases the artist might have had a real model for his statue and seeing them in that light, they are more interesting. This kind of things has happened with some art paintings in some churches. In the link which I give here, all apostles’ faces are local residents of the village. The churchman who presented to me the church told the story.
St. Henry’s church.
As You saw, it is great church!
Have a lovely week-end!
Comment by Sartenada — January 12, 2013 @ 10:13 |
Yes, I agree with the other comments. I love the red and yellow churches which are striking with the blue sky. Nice work!
Comment by Bondseye — January 12, 2013 @ 00:00 |
Hello Lisa.
Thank You commenting Lisa. I appreciate it very much.
Have a great week-end!
Comment by Sartenada — January 12, 2013 @ 10:15 |
Very educational post! I had never heard of poor man statues before. Your photos of the churches and statues are so beautiful!
Comment by alskamom — January 12, 2013 @ 20:22 |
Hi Alskamom.
There was a small coincidence with Alaska, because just this morning I checked weather conditions of Anchorage in Alaska from our morning news paper and thus I remembered You. I am very happy that You commented my post and apparently liked it. Thank You.
Have a great day!
Comment by Sartenada — January 13, 2013 @ 09:20 |
Love how bright are churches inside! Usually it’s so dark in there.
Comment by Nadezhda Konovalova — January 13, 2013 @ 11:08 |
Hi Nadezhda.
I never thought it, but You are right – I suppose. Thank You leaving Your comment.
Happy Sunday!
Comment by Sartenada — January 13, 2013 @ 11:40 |
The statues are very dignified. I hope lots of people were able to help with gifts of money!
Comment by megtraveling — January 14, 2013 @ 23:32 |
Hi Megtraveling.
Thank You for Your comment. Yes, I am sure, but maybe nowadays so much than earlier. I appreciate the history / tradition / wooden art and to see how people was dressed in our history. I think, not being sure, the last one everybody is not thinking or noticing.
Have a great day!
Comment by Sartenada — January 15, 2013 @ 08:20 |
The church buildings are very beautiful, you have a very different architecture of church buildings than in Denmark, where most churches are white whitewashed stone buildings with red tile roof. In Finland, the style is very different with wooden buildings and very colorful.
And of the story of Poor-man statues is fascinating!
Comment by Truels — January 16, 2013 @ 02:36 |
Hi Truels.
Thank You commenting so nicely. Well, in every country there is different church architecture and one reason to it is history, at least in Finland. We have long history (1150/1300–1809) with Sweden which ended in 1809. Then under Russian rule and finally 1917 we got our independence. These periods must have had some influence and when adding our own style, the result is here to be seen. This sounds so simple, but being under the Swedish rule many hundreds of years means that our churches on the long coast line differs from these which I presented. Generally speaking churches are made from stone. If we divide Finland in two parts from middle lengthwise then generally on the left side churches are made from stone and on the right side from wooden and remembering exceptions that coastal line.
Wooden beggar statues are generally speaking on the area called Ostrobothnia which are is huge and divided into three parts. That means, I think so, that in some cases churches has same kind of architecture. Okay, it is my own guess. Again in this post my photos are old and starting from part nine my photos are from last summer when I traveled using my blue car zigzagging Ostrobothnia in three days from the morning to the evening. On that trip I finally started myself to understand better it what these historic wooden Poor-man statues represent.
Have a great day!
Comment by Sartenada — January 16, 2013 @ 08:44 |
Curiosas y coloristas las esculturas humanas. Feliz Año Nuevo 2013.
Comment by trapatroles — January 16, 2013 @ 17:45 |
Hola Ramón.
Estatuas presentan la cultura finlandesa, que hemos conservado durante algunos siglos y son únicos en el mundo. Pobre Dama ha visitado en Italia, donde los italianos lo recibió con deleite. Se le ve en la quinta parte.
Abrazos.
Comment by Sartenada — January 17, 2013 @ 08:27 |
I enjoyed your beautiful and interesting photo essay of these churches and the statues.
Comment by Deb Platt — January 16, 2013 @ 20:55 |
Hi Deb.
Thank You again commenting and following my series of wooden beggars in Finland.
Have a great day!
Comment by Sartenada — January 17, 2013 @ 08:52 |
How very interesting. You have taught many of us something that we never knew before. I have been to Finland and have never seen a Poor Man or Poor Woman sculpture. What a touching and lovely idea. What was the method of removing the money: was it an honor system, or did somebody regulate who could remove money from the statue?
Comment by morristownmemos by Ronnie Hammer — January 19, 2013 @ 19:14 |
Hello Ronnie.
Thank You for Your interest concerning my post. I cannot reveal money removing system, but I can say that there is a box or “a money container”. Nowadays many churches have surveillance camera.
Very nice that You have been in Finland and thus an idea of our country. I hope that You have been outside Helsinki, because Helsinki is not all Finland but it is a small part of it. I can say that the real Finland is outside Helsinki. Depending on what interests a man has, best places are in the North and East to them who are interested in nature or hiking and to those who have cultural hunger best places are on Western and Southern coast lines. In the middle of Finland there is huge lake district where lake cruises are popular.
Have a great Sunday.
Comment by Sartenada — January 20, 2013 @ 13:19 |
Thank you for your comment today and for clicking the like button on my blog posts. I enjoyed your photos very much and am looking forward to following your posts.
Best,
Ruth in Pittsburgh
Comment by rutheh — January 20, 2013 @ 15:54 |
Hello Ruth.
I am glad that You did enjoy my posts and that You left Your comment!
Happy coming week.
Comment by Sartenada — January 21, 2013 @ 08:10 |
This is new to me too, fascinating! These are great photos. Thank you, Matti!
Comment by Amy — January 20, 2013 @ 16:47 |
Hi Amy.
These Poor-man statues are not known generally abroad and it was last summer when I decided to present half of them in my blogs. Thank You for Your comment; I appreciate it.
Have a wonderful day!
Comment by Sartenada — January 21, 2013 @ 08:17 |
Fabulous post with really nice pictures. I like the church pictures as well as the Poor Man and Poor Woman statues. I hope you have a fantastic week!
Comment by luchaniktravel — January 21, 2013 @ 01:38 |
Hi Davinder.
The churches have a “mandatory” extra when presenting in statues, but possible it does not bother. Thank You commenting.
Have a great day!
Comment by Sartenada — January 21, 2013 @ 08:36 |