1840s Boxed German Album Amicorum with Many Lovelies abract watercolor and carved from one piece

and carved from one piece of wood

signed and dated 1904 on the reverse by brother (Fra) Anlobsopladser (I believe) of Munkebjarg

simply fantastic

3 3/4" x 2 7/8"

Substantial in size and presence

1840s Boxed German Album Amicorum with Many Lovelies abract watercolor and carved from one pieceI only recently learned about album amicorum (Latin for "book of friends") or liber amicorum, a European manuscript tradition, beginning in the 16ht century, where individualsoften students, scholars, or aristocratscollected signatures, poems, illustrations, and in this case embroideries, from friends, colleagues, and notable figures. A sort of precursor to the Victorian autograph album, but these were comprised of loose pieces, collected over time,