WONDERFUL CIRCA-1750 PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN, WITH SIX HAND-COLORED CUT PLATES
(CHILDREN'S THEATER) ENGELBRECHT, Martin. Daniel in the Lion's Den. Augsburg, circa 1750. Six engraved plates, each 3-1/2 by 5-1/2 inches, hand-colored and hand-cut; housed in a modern 4-1/2 by 5 by 7 inch peepshow box, handsomely boxed.
Wonderful set of six 18th-century hand-colored and hand-cut plates, housed in order in a peepshow box giving a perspective view of Daniel in the Lion's Den.
Martin Engelbrecht (1684-1756) had privileges from 1719, 1729 and 1739 against copying these toy theater scenes, giving him a virtual monopoly on the form. The peepshow theaters were mainly designed by Jeremias Wachsmuth and Johann David Nessenthaler; they were generally brought onto the market already cut and colored by hand, ready to be played with and to be shown in matching boxes. In addition to religious themes, court life, fairy tales, the theater and the seasons were popular subjects. With contemporary paper sleeve hand-lettered in German.
A charming early children's item in fine condition.