A 19th Century Miniature ‘Bavelaar’ Diorama Alpine Huntsman with Dog

Code: 10357

Dimensions:

An Interesting Miniature Diorama of an Alpine Huntsman
with his Dog, Taking Aim at a Mountain Goat
Framed in a Papier Mache Shadow Box
Antique 19th Century
Northern European

Measures:-
5.2 cm in diameter. Frame 9.4 cm in diameter. 3 cm deep (to top of convex glass).

An interesting and unusual miniature diorama, framed in an attractive shadow box. The huntsman, a dog beside him, taking aim at a mountain goat or chamois. Sealed beneath a round piece of convex glass within the original relief-moulded papier mache frame mouled with a sunflower form. The whole scene made from an unusual cream material (wax, dough or, possibly, icing sugar). The background painted in a typical powdery blue.

The diorama is certainly European (possibly English or Scottish but could equally be from the Netherlands, Switzerland, the Black Forest region of Germany or another alpine region). 

This type of diorama is sometimes referred to as a ‘Bavelaar’ after the Dutch father and son artists Cornelius Bavelaar (1747-1830) and Cornelis Bavelaar (1777-1831) who specialized in tiny dioramas.

Condition: Good original condition. Unexamined out of the frame which appears never to have been opened. Some discolouring to the cream material of the diorama. There is a dent or chip to the moulding around the frame which it looks like it may have been there from the manufacturing. There is a rough edge to the convex glass which is simply glued into the circular aperture of the frame. At the back there is a circular hanger applied with cotton threading.