International Autograph Auctions Europe S.L.
Lot 391
[SCHUBERT FRANZ]: (1797-1828) Austrian composer. A pair of antique spectacles previously owned and worn by Franz Schubert, featuring oval spherical glass lenses within a silver (?) frame, the bridge composed of symmetrical opposing gentle curves which meet in the centre and measure approximately 3 cm; the hinged library temples approximately 12 cm each in length, both with an exposed loop at the end. Accompanied by a dark brown leather covered green card eyeglasses case. Both are loosely contained in a handsome foam lined dark blue cloth clamshell presentation box with a contemporary magazine engraving of the composer in a head and shoulders pose wearing an identical pair of spectacles. With a gilt stamped leather title to the lid, ‘Brille von Franz Schubert’. Almost always painted or drawn wearing spectacles, eyeglasses remain an iconic part of the composer’s appearance. A rare and unusual keepsake accompanied by excellent provenance. Some expected age wear, particularly to the exterior of the case, otherwise VGProvenance: Accompanied by a handwritten testimony of provenance signed (‘FN’) by the Austrian conductor Franz Xavier Neubacher, a previous custodian of the spectacles, in German, stating that they were gifted by Ferdinand Schubert (1794-1859), brother of Franz and a teacher at the Normal-Hauptschule at St. Anna, to his student Karl Schawerda, the grandfather of Neubacher’s late wife, and that Karl Schawerda’s daughter (the mother-in-law of Neubacher) passed them on to the conductor in 1933 along with a school report issued to Karl Schawerda by Ferdinand Schubert. Also included is the school report of Schawerda signed (‘Ferd. Schubert’) by Ferdinand Schubert, one page, slim folio, St, Anna, Vienna, 6th August 1856, in German. The partially printed document, completed in manuscript, testifies that Karl Schawerda attended his second year at the lower secondary school ‘very diligently’ and that his morals were ‘very good’, and further makes observations regarding his progress in religious doctrine, German, Italian, geography, history (the latter two both ‘very good’), natural history, arithmetic and other subjects, concluding that he is deserving of a place in the first class. Further including an oblong 4to printed announcement of Franz Schubert’s death, issued in the name of the composer’s father, and informing friends and acquaintances that his ‘dearly beloved son….music artist and composer, fell asleep to a better life after a short illness’ on Wednesday afternoon at 3 o’clock. Dated at Vienna, 20th November 1828.
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