I republish a post, which had already been published 11 years ago, about the oldest known miniaturist inside bottles: Matthias Buchinger. His works precede those of Giovanni Biondo by 65 years! Matthias Buchinger was born in 1674 in the city of Ansbach, Germany, without hands or legs. He was an artist and performer of magic, performed many demonstrations in many European courts and became known as the "little man of Nuremberg". He was in England and later in Ireland, where he died in Cork city. He was married four times and had at least 14 children (from eight women). Despite his disability, having no hands, Buchinger built miniatures inside bottles with scenes of mining exploration, with his motto being to overcome all difficulties, especially those caused by his physical limitations. The following photographs of the oldest known bottle were taken in Worcestershire by my friend Alan Rogers, President of the European Bottle Boat Association . The bottle is about eight cent

I asked my friend and long-time collaborator of “O Mar das Garrafas" (The Sea of Bottles”) Gérard Gauvin, to do me the honor of publishing something of his. I suggested Jean Jacques Costeau's "Calypso" and lo and behold, he sent me a complete "tutorial" on his wonderful "Calypso", including a historical introduction to such an important scientific research vessel. Although long, even in one language, I think readers will enjoy reading and watching "Calypso" by Gérard Gauvin.  This post is the Christmas gift from O MAR DAS GARRAFAS and Gerard is our Santa Claus! The Calypso A little history Originally "Calypso" was a minesweeper whose construction began on August 12, 1941 in the shipyards of the BMRC (Ballard. Marine. Railways. Company) at the port of Seattle in the United States. "Calypso" was one of the 561 ships ordered by the British Navy at the start of the Second World War, was baptized under the first registrati