There are several theories about the origin of the name Dollhopf. The leading contender is fruitcake.
#3 Dollhopf. What’s in a name?
Mark R Dollhopf
Mark R Dollhopf
There are several theories about the origin of the name Dollhopf. The leading contender is fruitcake.
“Napfkuchen” (German) is spelled like that- not “napfakuchen” p.1
or “napkuchen” p.4. Napf is a kind of bowl; you put the dough in, put it in the oven and turn it upside down before eating .
Referring to Papageno`s aria in Mozart`s Zauberflöte (Magic Flute): “Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja, ….) ” : Sorry, there is no Wiedehopf or other – hopf bird named in the text.
As far as we know, Johan Tolhopf exchanged letters with Conrad Celtis, another Humanist living in Nürnberg, but not Dürer.
Anne, the hoopoe bird is not mentioned in the aria, but Papageno typically is dressed as a hoopoe bird — with the elaborate and ostentatious crown. I played Papageno once, and my costume was labeled “hoopoe bird!
Ah yes, the spelling is indeed napfkuchen…I copied directly from the sources, so I will double check the sources. And yes, I would agree that the bird on the grave stone is likely an eagle. That’s why the bird derivation is the weakest. But I think it was you who actually suggested this theory when we were visiting the grave!!
Tolhopf mentioned in one of his letters to Celtis that he had written to Dürer…I will find the source.
Made the spelling corrections… all napfkuchen!
A wonderful article, profound AND funny! (The Germans usually couldn`t do it…)
Wunderbar, tiefsinnig, gründlich und witzig!!
Referring to the bookplate of Johan (Janus) Tolhopf , the bird shown there most probably is a heraldic eagle.
This suits better to an honoured scholar that was called the “German Hercules” in his times.