Sebastian Köpcke (*1967), Volker Weinhold (*1962) | Photographers
Uwe Uhlig from Lengefeld in the Erzgebirge is a qualified specialist for the extremely small. The trained turner has been operating his company for miniature turnery there since 1999. Asked why he specialised in the turning of miniatures, Uwe Uhlig answered: “Because I can!” Already as a child, he was the one in his family who dedicated himself to the nerve-racking “fiddly work” others recoiled from.
And it is in fact not everyone’s cup of tea to occupy themselves with such small things. Those who produce tiny little things need a steady hand, much patience and not least a sense for aesthetics.
This Thumbelina was produced in a period of only a few years. It was at that time part of a fairy tale series, which Uwe Uhlig is still producing today.
“Thumbelina”, the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a tiny little girl, was published for the first time in Denmark in 1835. It tells the story of a girl named Thumbelina who overcomes various dangers and undertakes adventures, in the end meeting a winged prince the same size as her in the form of a flower, whom she marries, and who equips her with the wings of a fly. She subsequently flies with him from flower to flower. Her husband also finally gives Thumbelina a new name: Maya.
Uwe Uhlig (*1960) | producer
MATERIAL & TECHNIQUE
wood, turned, sawed, punched
MUSEUM
Museum für Sächsische Volkskunst
DIMENSIONS
H 3.4 x base plate D 3.2 cm
PLACE, DATING
Lengefeld (Erzgebirge), 2000- 2007
INVENTORY NUMBER
G 10055