Sebastian Köpcke (*1967), Volker Weinhold (*1962) | Photographers
Whether as an individual figure or side by side with an angel: the illustrious circle of decorative figures for Christmas cannot be imagined in Saxony without the carved Erzgebirge miner, often carrying lights. The miner stands for the professional pride and the consciousness of tradition of the miners of the Erzgebirge. In addition to this, it is a symbol for the identity-establishing connectedness of the inhabitants of the Erzgebirge with the centuries-old mining tradition. Mostly in an impressive size, artfully carved from wood and painted, one is familiar with them as a Christmas element.
In this case, however, the artist decided to go in the opposite direction: he designed his artwork to be more inconspicuous, if not even “camouflaged” as a simple match. Only at second glance does one recognise what this match is about. A certain explosive power arises from the fact that the object could simply burn away, a consequence of the chosen original material.
No more is known about the carver, who lived in Endersbach in Swabia to the east of Stuttgart at the point of time of procurement.
Erich Ebert | producer
MATERIAL & TECHNIQUE
match, carved, painted
DIMENSIONS
miner H 1.7 x W 0.4 x D 0.2 cm, match H 5.4 cm
MUSEUM
Museum für Sächsische Volkskunst
PLACE, DATING
Weinstadt-Endersbach, 1998
INVENTORY NUMBER
G 8835