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I travelled to Copenhagen, Denmark recently. On one side of the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek museum is a park. The entrance to the park has swastikas embedded in the metal gate posts.

Google Streetview Reference 1. (Google Streetview Reference 1.)

Also, on the side this brick building embedded with the bricks or granite stonework (I cannot precisely remember) are more swastikas.

Google Streetview reference 2. (Google Streetview reference 2.)

What is the meaning or history behind these swastikas in this complex?

So that my intent is clear, I realise:

  • Europe has a complicated history with swastikas from the era of the German National Socialist Party.
  • Swastikas have different meanings given their angle / tilt / mirror.
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kevinarpe
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2 Answers2

69

Regarding the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek:

The collection is built around the personal collection of Carl Jacobsen (1842–1914), the son of the founder of the Carlsberg Breweries.

According to the same source, parts of the museum were originally Carlsberg's private villa. The rest of what is now the museum then formed around the villa.

The Carlsberg Group's official website states:

The Swastika is an ancient symbol of prosperity and goodness in Sanskrit. In 1881 Carl Jacobsen made it the symbol of the beer produced in his brewery 'Ny Carlsberg' which was a competitor to his father's 'Old Carlsberg' brewery.

Carl had a profound interest in ancient Greece and Rome where the symbol was also often used.

In 1940 Carlsberg stopped using the swastika symbol for good.

Apparently, the particular type of gates referred to in OP are from 1882. As you suggest in OP, this was certainly before the Swastika had acquired the negative associations it presently carries (in the West.)

Gate from 1882. Image source

There are also other Swastikas and Sauwastikas in the museum:

Swastika in ceiling. Image source

Swastika in concrete.

Image source

The emphasis is mine in both quotes.

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Fiksdal
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47

The Carlsberg brewery started using the swastika as their logo in 1881. After the nazis adopted the swastika as their most prominent symbol, Carlsberg stopped using it some time in the 1930ies, but it is still in place on some of their older buildings, e.g. at the Glypotek musuem.

Here is an example of an old Carlsberg beer bottle label:

enter image description here

Tor-Einar Jarnbjo
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