Tuesday Treasures - April 29, 2025

I made quick stop at Goodwill near the grocery store.  I have been coming out empty handed.  Both due to finding nothing and prices more than I liked.  

Sometimes though, I see something interesting and I'm not as concerned with the price!  Well, not unless it's very expensive! Like the glass swung vase that was about 3' tall, but $25.00.  Probably a bargain, but not in my budget.  Fortunately, this etching was only $6.11 with my discount.

I saw the top peeking out behind a lot of other artwork, and knew it was old by the color of the paper and edges of the mat. 

This is The Bookworm.  It's a c1850 color plate printed in Austria, of the oil painting by Karl Spitzweg.  The information is printed in the bottom of the border, not shown.  While it is plate No. 410, it was not an illustrated plate from a book. 

I wouldn't have taken it out of the frame (even though no part of the framing is acid-free), except that somehow it was dirty on the inside of the glass.  Even drips inside.  Odd.

Turns out the print is affixed to an old advertising board!  You never would know what materials a framer used.  Not ideal, not in the least, but it has to stay.  So, no acid-free for The Bookworm.

Spitzweg painted three versions, the first was called The Librarian.  They are said to be typical of the artist's humous style, which can be seen in the caricature face of The Bookworm.

He's cleaned up and hanging in the hall!