What, still thriving, Middle Ages commercial center commissioned a statue by Nicholas Monro in 1972?
King Kong statue A statue of King Kong by Nicholas Monro was commissioned in 1972 for display in Manzoni Gardens in The Bull Ring, in the centre of Birmingham, England. It was later displayed elsewhere in Birmingham, then at markets in Edinburgh, Penrith (where it was subsequently stored), and now at the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds.
Sedes Sapientiae, Leuven The Sedes Sapientiae (Latin for "Seat of Wisdom", one of the medieval titles of the Virgin), also known as Our Lady of Leuven, is a medieval wooden statue of the Virgin Mary. Nicolaas De Bruyne carved the statue in 1442, copying and enlarging an earlier and smaller statue from the 13th century. The polychromy was done by Roelof van Velpen. It has been restored several times: in 1842 by the Goyers workshop and in 1945 by Jos Van Uytvanck. It is located in St Peter's Church in the heart of the city of Leuven, Flanders. It is the symbol of the Catholic University of Leuven, and is depicted in the university's seal.