[Curiosa] Buchinger, Matthias. Original Transformation Drawing

Lynn, (England), November 20, 1733. One leaf with overlaid sheet of paper, with pull tabs at top and bottom, 7 x 4 1/2 in. (178 x 114 mm). Upper sheet with drawing of a sunflower-like specimen, with two cut-out windows; the lower sheet bearing the patron's name ("Mrs. Alice Lee") and two autograph inscriptions: "Lynn; Novbr. th 20; 1733, This was Drawn & Written by Matthew Buchinger born Without Hands or Feet; in Germany, June the 3 1674"; pull-tabs (no longer functional) allowing the text to appear or disappear from the windows. Sheet very toned and fragile, scattered chipping. Includes pieces from original mount. From the collection of magician Ricky Jay, and illustrated in his Matthias Buchinger: The Greatest Living German (2016, p. 105)

A rare and original transformation drawing by German artist, magician, and inventor, Matthias Buchinger (1674-1740). Born without hands and feet and only 29-inches tall, Buchinger traveled widely around Europe during his life, using his malformed arms and legs before audiences to perform various acts, such as firing pistols, playing musical instruments, performing magic tricks, play dice, among other acts. His most impressive feats were his skill at micrography, in which illustrations consist of very small text.

In reference to the above piece, Ricky Jay writes in his Matthias Buchinger: The Greatest Living German, that Buchinger "created unusual two-layered drawings, I believe to his mastery of the knife...He used similar skills to create what is probably a very early version of a metamorphosis, or transformation, drawing...I think that the center of the flower and the rectangle near the bottom of the tree both had images that could have been altered by pulling on the tabs connected to the drawing. Unfortunately, this piece is too fragile to operate. It bears the name 'Mrs. Alice Lee' within the circular flower window, and Buchinger signed it in Lynn, England, on November 20, 1733. Justin Schiller, an expert on early children's books, thinks that it could have been a memorial piece, but even more likely a wedding presentation to 'Mrs. Alice Lee,' whose married name would have been revealed when the tabs were pulled. Sadly, we do not know what happened, in either the upper circle or the rectangular box where the Little Man signed his name. This may be the oldest extant example of this type of moveable ephemera." (p. 105).

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

Provenance

Sotheby's, New York, The Ricky Jay Collection, October 27-28, 2021, Sale N10706, Lot 127

From the collection of Justin G. Schiller

[Curiosa] Buchinger, Matthias. Original Transformation Drawing

[Curiosa] Buchinger, Matthias. Original Transformation Drawing