Die Niederlassung von Matthias Hess

In the early 19th century Matthias Hess was a young Handwerker in Nürnberg, as medieval in outlook as the still medieval city in which he had been born.  Yet, instead of the usual pots and pans and other commonplace wares expected of him, he began making “playthings” by hand using the very ordinary and unlikely medium of his calling — tin-plated iron.  A hundred years later “tin toys” would be Nürnberg’s most famous products throughout the world, employing thousands in its factories.  This is how that began.