Planning for the fountain sculpture, financed with funds bequeathed by industrialist and patron Gustav Albert Petrelius, began before Finland gained independence, but the war delayed the project’s completion. The subject of the commissioned work, designed by Gunnar Finne and Armas Lindgren, was adapted to reflect the young republic’s national identity.

At the top of the fountain stands a lion, a symbol of the Finnish people, on a pillar decorated with lilies. The seahorses and seashells, in turn, recall Turku’s importance as a maritime city.

In 2010, the fountain was fitted with striking lighting that highlights its sculptural forms even during the hours of darkness.