Sebastian Köpcke (*1967), Volker Weinhold (*1962) | Photographers
For the micro-carver Lothar Lauterbach, a walnut is only the large frame for something minuscule. This because the artist placed a peach pit in this nut, into which he in turn incorporated a sloe pit. This contains a forest landscape consisting of 14 trees and, to the left and right in the foreground, two hand-carved mushrooms (the hallmark of Lauterbach).
However, the carver, born in 1929, was known not only for his spectacular micro-carvings. In his home region he was known both as a widely recognised nature conservationist and as an experienced hornet and fungus expert. Lauterbach was presented with the badge of honour of the city of Lutherstadt Eisleben in 2019 for his many years of service as a nature conservationist.
The artist was also a multiple record holder. He found his way into the Guinness Book of Records three times: in 1998 with the smallest ski-jumping hill; in 1999 with the smallest forest landscape in a cherry pit and in 2001 with the smallest forest landscape in a sloe pit.
That the object by Lothar Lauterbach has even made its way into the collection of the museum at all is almost a miracle, because this spectacular carving is not only absolutely tiny. It also has a special story: Lauterbach first produced the inner sloe pit with forest and mushrooms. This tiny pit is said to have kept him holding his breath. He was happy to show an astonished audience this piece as an example of his artistry when he was out and about. However, small things are easily lost when one is not careful.
The inevitable occurred during Advent in 2014: the sloe pit fell to the ground when Lauterbach presented his works at a Christmas market in Eisleben and was lost. He only found the pit again while packing up in the evening: it had fallen between the panels of the floor mat beneath the market stand, meant to keep away the winter cold of the ground. This mishap would not remain the only one. Lauterbach searched for this sloe pit, which was his pride and joy, a second time. The next time he lost the pit in Nordhausen, where he had his stand at a market. No amount of searching helped this time. Lauterbach only found the lost piece days later at home in his display with the other artworks – the pit had fallen there unnoticed at the market.
The artist gave the work to the museum in 2015 with the almost apologetic words “I can’t get it any smaller!” Lauterbach was a guest in the Museum für Sächsische Volkskunst over many years. During the Advent and Easter seasons, he travelled for several days from Eisleben and presented his works in the museum – all kinds of tiny landscapes, but also self-made jewellery of various natural products.
Lauterbach still continued to produce tiny works in the nursing home at a very advanced age. Almost unbelievable in the face of the small masterpieces: Lauterbach, a trained orthopaedic shoemaker, had been nearly blind since childhood.
Lothar Lauterbach (1929 – 2022) | producer
MATERIAL & TECHNIQUE
forest landscape of wood, carved, metal, glued
DIMENSIONS
closed H 3 x W 3.8 x D 2.7 cm, peach pit H 2.7 x W 2.05 cm, sloe pit H 0.85 x W 1.25 cm
MUSEUM
Museum für Sächsische Volkskunst
PLACE, DATING
Lutherstadt Eisleben, 2014
INVENTORY NUMBER
G 11479