Buchinger (Matthias, 1674-1740). A bookform box with micrography, 1720/21
Sold for £8,000
Buchinger (Matthias, 1674-1740). A bookform box with micrography, 1720/21, wooden and ivory bookform box, spine with carved raised bands, sliding lid and lower side with inset glazed calligraphic panels written in sepia ink on paper in a miniscule hand, that to lid with religious script forming the design of a chalice and wafer, within an arched frame of red ink volutes, a little stained, that to lower side with the Ten Commandments on stone tablets, within a similar red ink border, each with inscription below: 'Dublin febr. the 8 d 1720/21. This is Written by Mathew Buchinger born Without Hands or feet in Germany June the 3 d 1674', panels 47 x 30 mm, overall size 73 x 60 x 19 mm
(Qty: 1)
Provenance: Collection of Jack Webb (1923-2019), London.
Matthias Buchinger, the so-called 'Little Man of Nuremberg', was a famous dwarf just 29 inches tall, born without legs and with truncated arms which had finlike appendages for hands. However, despite such disadvantages, he travelled widely in northern Europe, performing and excelling at many occupations associated with physical dexterity. He is most famed for his remarkable abilities as a calligrapher, specialising in micrography, but he also built highly detailed models of ships in bottles, as well as drew portraits, coats of arms, landscapes and family trees, many commissioned by royalty. He played at least 6 musical instruments, some of his own invention, performing for King George I, amongst others. He also danced the hornpipe, gave magic shows, and displayed his skill as a marksman and swordsman. He is known to have been performing in Dublin in 1720, and Belfast in 1722. Buchinger lived to the ripe old age of sixty-five, surviving three wives and marrying a fourth. He was famed for the number of mistresses he kept, and apparently fathered at least 14 children by 8 women.
Specimens of Buchinger's calligraphy are rare, and we have not traced another such example of his work set into a box as here.
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Sold for £8,000
Buchinger (Matthias, 1674-1740). A bookform box with micrography, 1720/21, wooden and ivory bookform box, spine with carved raised bands, sliding lid and lower side with inset glazed calligraphic panels written in sepia ink on paper in a miniscule hand, that to lid with religious script forming the design of a chalice and wafer, within an arched frame of red ink volutes, a little stained, that to lower side with the Ten Commandments on stone tablets, within a similar red ink border, each with inscription below: 'Dublin febr. the 8 d 1720/21. This is Written by Mathew Buchinger born Without Hands or feet in Germany June the 3 d 1674', panels 47 x 30 mm, overall size 73 x 60 x 19 mm
(Qty: 1)
Provenance: Collection of Jack Webb (1923-2019), London.
Matthias Buchinger, the so-called 'Little Man of Nuremberg', was a famous dwarf just 29 inches tall, born without legs and with truncated arms which had finlike appendages for hands. However, despite such disadvantages, he travelled widely in northern Europe, performing and excelling at many occupations associated with physical dexterity. He is most famed for his remarkable abilities as a calligrapher, specialising in micrography, but he also built highly detailed models of ships in bottles, as well as drew portraits, coats of arms, landscapes and family trees, many commissioned by royalty. He played at least 6 musical instruments, some of his own invention, performing for King George I, amongst others. He also danced the hornpipe, gave magic shows, and displayed his skill as a marksman and swordsman. He is known to have been performing in Dublin in 1720, and Belfast in 1722. Buchinger lived to the ripe old age of sixty-five, surviving three wives and marrying a fourth. He was famed for the number of mistresses he kept, and apparently fathered at least 14 children by 8 women.
Specimens of Buchinger's calligraphy are rare, and we have not traced another such example of his work set into a box as here.
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