A 500-year-old engraving by a colossus of late medieval art—found at a rubbish dump by an 11-year-old boy—has been sold at auction this week for £26,500.
The museum-worthy engraving, almost lost forever in landfill, was identified as a work by Albrecht Dürer, a painter and printmaker regarded as one of the most gifted artists of all time. Born in 1471 in Nuremberg, Germany, when the city was part of the Holy Roman Empire, Dürer became one of the most important figures of the Northern Renaissance. He knew renowned Italian artists, including Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci, and created works for Emperor Maximilian I from 1486 to 1519.
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However, if it weren’t for eagle-eyed Mat Winter, the valuable artwork—titled Knight, Death and the Devil—would have been lost in the trash. Completed in 1513, it is one of Dürer’s most famous and influential works. Such is its importance that its discovery left antiques expert Jim Spencer shaking. The engraving was offered by Rare Books Auctions, with a guide price of £10,000–£20,000, but it exceeded expectations, fetching £26,500.
Image courtesy Rare Books Auctions
“I’ve had an eye for antiques since I was 10 years old,” said Mat, who is now 24. “I used to go to the local rubbish tip to see what I could find. I discovered some great stuff. One day, a lady had some rubbish in her car, including the print. I thought it looked interesting and asked if I could have it. She was more than happy to give it to me because she wanted it to go to someone rather than just throwing it away. I was 11 at the time and very happy she let me take it.
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“It’s been tucked away in a cupboard at home with all my other antique finds for the last 13 years. Recently, I decided to get it checked out to see if it was as special as it looked. I was amazed to find out it was.”
Jim Spencer, Director of Rare Book Auctions, describes what happened when he got the item: “I’ve seen countless prints copying Dürer, from a much later period or produced by a different means, but I’d only ever seen the real thing in museums—until now.
“The owner sent it to me for appraisal. I didn’t have high expectations when he described how he’d rescued it from someone’s car boot at his local rubbish dump around 10 years ago.
Jim Spencer, director of Rare Book Auctions, with Knight, Death and the Devil, by Albrecht Durer. Credit Rare Book Auctions
“I opened the package, removed the bubble wrap, and staggered back in awe. My hands were shaking as I held it up to the light. The laid paper was absolutely right for the period. The quality of the engraving was exceptional beyond words. I knew that only one person could’ve produced something like this—it had to be the hand of Dürer himself.
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“I shouted over to my brother—and colleague—Matty. He came over and agreed with me instantly. It was simply too good to have been engraved by anyone else. We spoke with the British Museum, booked our train tickets to London, and took it there.
“It was the school holidays, so the British Museum was packed with tourists. We could barely move inside. It was one of the greatest privileges of my life to be granted access to the solitude of the Prints & Drawings Study Room, where other Dürer engravings in the museum’s collections were carefully laid out for me and Matty to see.
“A research fellow from the United States assisted us with viewing the engravings and comparing their examples with ours. With a magnifying glass, we were able to check that every minuscule line matched perfectly. It confirmed what we had thought and hoped. This was indeed the real deal.
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“The research fellow shared a number of academic journals discussing the engraving Knight, Death and the Devil. One of the most important points related to an incredibly faint scratch across the head of the knight’s steed, which would’ve been accidentally swiped across the surface of the copper plate prior to printing and would’ve been almost imperceptible. I checked our example, and the scratch was present. It disappears on later printings, so this sealed it. It was period and authentic.
Image courtesy Rare Books Auctions
“It’s the most important print I’ve ever catalogued and offered for sale. It was pasted down on a mount, probably around 1900, which will affect the value, but it’s a really nice impression with great clarity and contrasts, which is a massive bonus. In excellent, unmounted condition, this is a print that can command sums close to £200,000.”
A 500-year-old engraving by a colossus of late medieval art—found at a rubbish dump by an 11-year-old boy—has been sold at auction this week for £26,500.
The museum-worthy engraving, almost lost forever in landfill, was identified as a work by Albrecht Dürer, a painter and printmaker regarded as one of the most gifted artists of all time. Born in 1471 in Nuremberg, Germany, when the city was part of the Holy Roman Empire, Dürer became one of the most important figures of the Northern Renaissance. He knew renowned Italian artists, including Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci, and created works for Emperor Maximilian I from 1486 to 1519.
However, if it weren’t for eagle-eyed Mat Winter, the valuable artwork—titled Knight, Death and the Devil—would have been lost in the trash. Completed in 1513, it is one of Dürer’s most famous and influential works. Such is its importance that its discovery left antiques expert Jim Spencer shaking. The engraving was offered by Rare Books Auctions, with a guide price of £10,000–£20,000, but it exceeded expectations, fetching £26,500.
“I’ve had an eye for antiques since I was 10 years old,” said Mat, who is now 24. “I used to go to the local rubbish tip to see what I could find. I discovered some great stuff. One day, a lady had some rubbish in her car, including the print. I thought it looked interesting and asked if I could have it. She was more than happy to give it to me because she wanted it to go to someone rather than just throwing it away. I was 11 at the time and very happy she let me take it.
“It’s been tucked away in a cupboard at home with all my other antique finds for the last 13 years. Recently, I decided to get it checked out to see if it was as special as it looked. I was amazed to find out it was.”
Jim Spencer, Director of Rare Book Auctions, describes what happened when he got the item: “I’ve seen countless prints copying Dürer, from a much later period or produced by a different means, but I’d only ever seen the real thing in museums—until now.
“The owner sent it to me for appraisal. I didn’t have high expectations when he described how he’d rescued it from someone’s car boot at his local rubbish dump around 10 years ago.
“I opened the package, removed the bubble wrap, and staggered back in awe. My hands were shaking as I held it up to the light. The laid paper was absolutely right for the period. The quality of the engraving was exceptional beyond words. I knew that only one person could’ve produced something like this—it had to be the hand of Dürer himself.
“I shouted over to my brother—and colleague—Matty. He came over and agreed with me instantly. It was simply too good to have been engraved by anyone else. We spoke with the British Museum, booked our train tickets to London, and took it there.
“It was the school holidays, so the British Museum was packed with tourists. We could barely move inside. It was one of the greatest privileges of my life to be granted access to the solitude of the Prints & Drawings Study Room, where other Dürer engravings in the museum’s collections were carefully laid out for me and Matty to see.
“A research fellow from the United States assisted us with viewing the engravings and comparing their examples with ours. With a magnifying glass, we were able to check that every minuscule line matched perfectly. It confirmed what we had thought and hoped. This was indeed the real deal.
“The research fellow shared a number of academic journals discussing the engraving Knight, Death and the Devil. One of the most important points related to an incredibly faint scratch across the head of the knight’s steed, which would’ve been accidentally swiped across the surface of the copper plate prior to printing and would’ve been almost imperceptible. I checked our example, and the scratch was present. It disappears on later printings, so this sealed it. It was period and authentic.
“It’s the most important print I’ve ever catalogued and offered for sale. It was pasted down on a mount, probably around 1900, which will affect the value, but it’s a really nice impression with great clarity and contrasts, which is a massive bonus. In excellent, unmounted condition, this is a print that can command sums close to £200,000.”
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