Iron Man

myminifactory

Iron:Man stands tall in Victoria Square, Birmingham, England, crafted by Antony Gormley. The 6-metre-tall (20 ft) statue rises above the pavement, its feet buried beneath, and weighs an impressive 6 metric tons (6 long tons). With a distinctive lean of 7.5° backwards and 5° to the left, Iron:Man embodies the traditional skills of Birmingham and the Black Country that flourished during the Industrial Revolution. Cast by Bradley and Fosters Castings in Willenhall, it was erected in 1993 as a gift from the Trustee Savings Bank to the City. Initially situated outside the former Head Post Office, their headquarters at the time, Iron:Man was originally named Untitled but later gained its iconic nickname, which Gormley officially requested be changed to Iron:Man. Initially met with controversy, critics' concerns about rusting were swiftly dismissed by Gormley, who revealed that the type of iron used actually encourages oxidation, safeguarding the metal. Rumors even circulated that when Diana, Princess of Wales, reopened Victoria Square in 1994, the statue was conveniently hidden from view. When the bank relocated its headquarters to Bristol, some in Birmingham questioned whether Iron:Man should be relocated or removed, but as a gift to the city, it remained standing.