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An 11-Year-Old Boy Made an Incredible Discovery by Rescuing a 500-Year-Old Renaissance Engraving from a Dump. See How This Valuable and Mysterious Piece of Art Ended Up in the Trash and Surprised Experts!
An 11-year-old boy made an amazing discovery by rescuing a mysterious piece of art from a dump. What seemed to be just an old print turned out to be a rare Renaissance engraving, created by none other than Albrecht Dürer, the renowned German artist.
The piece, which had been hidden for over a decade, is now set to be auctioned, with expectations of fetching over US$ 26,000.
The Rescue of a Renaissance Treasure
Hansons Auctioneers
The story begins with Mat Winter, now 24, who, since childhood, developed the habit of searching for treasures in a local dump in the town of Cranbrook, southern England.
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At just 11 years old, Winter found what would become one of his greatest discoveries. “One day, an older lady was throwing away some things, and among them was a print that caught my attention“, recalls Winter. The woman, unaware of the value of the piece, was happy to hand over the object.
For more than 13 years, the engraving remained kept in a cabinet, alongside other finds of Winter, until he decided to check if that print had any real value . When he finally took the piece for a professional appraisal, he was surprised by the response.
The Revelation of the Artwork
Hansons Auctioneers
Mat Winter contacted Jim Spencer, an experienced director of rare book auctions, and presented the print to him. Initially, Spencer had little expectation, but upon opening the package, his perception changed completely.
“I removed the bubble wrap and was immediately amazed. My hands trembled as I held the engraving up to the light“, says Spencer. “The Vergé paper was perfect for the period, and the quality of the print was something extraordinary. Only one person could have made this — Albrecht Dürer.”
The piece, a copy of the famous woodcut Knight, Death and the Devil (1513), is one of the three “Meisterstiche” by Dürer, known as “master prints“. In this illustration, a vigorous knight rides accompanied by a dark figure carrying an hourglass, symbolizing death, while a devil closely follows him.
An Authentic Piece
Knowing the rarity of the find, Spencer immediately approached the British Museum to confirm its authenticity. There, experts compared the engraving with three others in the institution’s collection. A crucial detail sealed the fate of the artwork: a barely perceptible scratch on the horse’s head, resulting from a defect in the copper plate used by Dürer, which was later corrected in future editions.
This mark was essential to prove that Winter’s print was one of the first editions of the piece. “It is the most important engraving I have ever cataloged and offered for sale“, declared Spencer. Although the piece had been mounted, possibly around 1900, which may slightly reduce its value, the clarity and contrasts of the print are extraordinary.
Who Was Albrecht Dürer
Born in 1471, Dürer is considered one of the greatest masters of Renaissance engraving. His work was highly influenced by contemporaries such as Leonardo da Vinci, and his technical skill continues to impress artists and scholars to this day.
Although Dürer also ventured into painting, his engravings, especially those made on copper plates, are seen as his most enduring contribution to the art world.
The auction of Dürer’s piece is expected to conclude on September 18, and the piece could fetch a significant amount. Although mounted on an old frame, the estimated value exceeds US$ 26,000, but in ideal conditions, the print could reach up to £200,000 (over US$ 260,000).
For Mat Winter, the discovery is the culmination of years of searching for curious and ancient objects. From a young age, he developed an interest in antiques, always looking for discarded items that might hold value. And, while most of his finds are not of great significance, the discovery of Dürer’s engraving turned his childhood curiosity into an extraordinary stroke of luck.
Jim Spencer concludes that Dürer’s work is a clear example of the artist’s genius. “Dürer’s copper engravings are superhuman”, says Spencer. “They are as incredible and inspiring as anything you can see, and this piece is a living testament to his unmatched skill.”
Gosto muito de artigos sobre a descoberta de tesouros em meio a locais inusitados, como no caso, lixões. Peças que nos revelam a essência do autor na época vivida. O antigo nos atrai sobremaneira.