Anton Adner
Encyclopedia
Anton Adner also known as the Bavarian Methusalem, was a Bavaria
n artisan
of wood
, who reportedly has been one of the oldest people to live in that region of Germany
.
-where his residence was-, or of Tyrol
-from which Adner would have come after the birth of his child-. Adner's nickname was Danei.
activity consisted of building and selling his wooden creations
. In those years, the region of Berchtesgaden
had strict commerce regulations. Each wood artisan could make just one determined kind of production, so Adner specialized in making wooden boxes of many uses, basically decorative
, for storing divers things of every-day usage, including foodstuff, valuables, toys, etcetera.
Berchtesgaden also imposed important fees
for the production which crossed the frontier. Nonetheless, things which were carried personally by someone were exempted of this, therefore -like many other artisans- Adner decided transporting his goods afoot with a backpack far beyond Berchtesgadener Land
, so reaching throughout Bavaria
, and even more distantly to Austria
and Switzerland
. The wooden boxes were so carried by Adner, over his shoulder and even over his head. Indeed, he kept doing this even after his centenary age.
For a pastime, Anton Adner got usually engaged, knitting picturesque sock
s, for selling those too, with his wooden boxes.
device at Berchtesgaden. Then, Adner was presented in 1814, at the Frauenkirche
cathedral
of Munich
for Maundy Thursday
, as the oldest man of Bavaria. For the occasion, Adner participated in the rite of foot washing. Then, he also attended a theatre for the first time in his life.
During that event, the 110-year-old Anton Adner also managed to climb the 92-meter-high southern tower of the cathedral. A portrait, the Frauenturm, had been engraved for commemorating such deed, but it was destroyed by the World War II
bombings. Nonetheless, a painter of Munich, named Kleiber
, did a paint of it, which nowadays is exhibited in the museum of Berchtesgaden.
In 1817 at the alleged age of 112 Anton Adner met Emperor Maximilian I who took over for his medical care.
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n artisan
Artisan
An artisan is a skilled manual worker who makes items that may be functional or strictly decorative, including furniture, clothing, jewellery, household items, and tools...
of wood
Carpentry
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
, who reportedly has been one of the oldest people to live in that region of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Life
Anton Adner was born in 1705; it is believed, either of SchönauSchönau
- People :* Horst Schönau* Elizabeth of Schönau, a Benedictine nun at Schönau Abbey of Nassau and a friend of Hildegarde of Bingen- Places :Germany:* Schönau , a town in Baden-Württemberg** Schönau Abbey, in this town...
-where his residence was-, or of Tyrol
County of Tyrol
The County of Tyrol, Princely County from 1504, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire, from 1814 a province of the Austrian Empire and from 1867 a Cisleithanian crown land of Austria-Hungary...
-from which Adner would have come after the birth of his child-. Adner's nickname was Danei.
Selling wooden boxes
Up until the end of his life, Adner's modest artisanArtisan
An artisan is a skilled manual worker who makes items that may be functional or strictly decorative, including furniture, clothing, jewellery, household items, and tools...
activity consisted of building and selling his wooden creations
Carpentry
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
. In those years, the region of Berchtesgaden
Berchtesgaden
Berchtesgaden is a municipality in the German Bavarian Alps. It is located in the south district of Berchtesgadener Land in Bavaria, near the border with Austria, some 30 km south of Salzburg and 180 km southeast of Munich...
had strict commerce regulations. Each wood artisan could make just one determined kind of production, so Adner specialized in making wooden boxes of many uses, basically decorative
Decorative boxes
Though the purpose of a box may be purely functional, boxes can also be very decorative and artistic. Many boxes are used for promotional packaging, both commercially and privately...
, for storing divers things of every-day usage, including foodstuff, valuables, toys, etcetera.
Berchtesgaden also imposed important fees
Customs
Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting and safeguarding customs duties and for controlling the flow of goods including animals, transports, personal effects and hazardous items in and out of a country...
for the production which crossed the frontier. Nonetheless, things which were carried personally by someone were exempted of this, therefore -like many other artisans- Adner decided transporting his goods afoot with a backpack far beyond Berchtesgadener Land
Berchtesgadener Land
Berchtesgadener Land is a district in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by the district of Traunstein and by the state of Austria.- History :The alpine regions of the south were Bavarian territory from the early Middle Ages. The 11th and 12th centuries saw the founding of numerous mountain villages...
, so reaching throughout Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, and even more distantly to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. The wooden boxes were so carried by Adner, over his shoulder and even over his head. Indeed, he kept doing this even after his centenary age.
For a pastime, Anton Adner got usually engaged, knitting picturesque sock
Sock
A sock is an item of clothing worn on the feet. The foot is among the heaviest producers of sweat in the body, as it is able to produce over of perspiration per day. Socks help to absorb this sweat and draw it to areas where air can evaporate the perspiration. In cold environments, socks decrease...
s, for selling those too, with his wooden boxes.
National fame
The Bavarian royalty had spotted Anton Adner, for the inauguration of a brineBrine
Brine is water, saturated or nearly saturated with salt .Brine is used to preserve vegetables, fruit, fish, and meat, in a process known as brining . Brine is also commonly used to age Halloumi and Feta cheeses, or for pickling foodstuffs, as a means of preserving them...
device at Berchtesgaden. Then, Adner was presented in 1814, at the Frauenkirche
Munich Frauenkirche
The Frauenkirche is a church in the Bavarian city of Munich that serves as the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising and seat of its Archbishop. It is a landmark and is considered a symbol of the Bavarian capital city.The church towers are widely visible because of local height...
cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
for Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great & Holy Thursday, and Thursday of Mysteries, is the Christian feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles as described in the Canonical gospels...
, as the oldest man of Bavaria. For the occasion, Adner participated in the rite of foot washing. Then, he also attended a theatre for the first time in his life.
During that event, the 110-year-old Anton Adner also managed to climb the 92-meter-high southern tower of the cathedral. A portrait, the Frauenturm, had been engraved for commemorating such deed, but it was destroyed by the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
bombings. Nonetheless, a painter of Munich, named Kleiber
Kleiber
Kleiber is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:* Erich Kleiber , Austrian-German conductor* Carlos Kleiber , Austrian conductor* Günther Kleiber , German communist politician...
, did a paint of it, which nowadays is exhibited in the museum of Berchtesgaden.
In 1817 at the alleged age of 112 Anton Adner met Emperor Maximilian I who took over for his medical care.