The Upright Stance

In the 18th century, showmen with mechanical miniature mines increasingly appeared at the Leipzig Fair. For a small donation, they provided information about underground mining work. The miniatures were carried on the backs of their owners and were therefore also referred to as “hump mines”.
In many cases, the showmen were invalid miners whose exhibits displayed their former workplace. Although the miners had been deformed by their former profession, they still felt connected to it.