Dwarfs were treated with considerable respect in Ancient Egyptian society, notably during the Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom periods. Their natural nanism was seen as a celestial gift and they enjoyed high status, worked in the royal palaces and often held prestigious jobs. The rather high proportion of dwarfs in the royal cemeteries of the 1st Dynasty suggests some may have been brought into Egypt from elsewhere. Below is a statue of the dwarf Seneb, his wife and children, from the 4th or 5th dynasty.
The 18 inches tall Rutland dwarf, Jeffery Hudson was served up in a pie to entertain Charles I. The English king was so taken with this that he took him into service in court where he entertained the Queen.
An eighteenth-century German dwarf named Matthew Birchinger,was known as "the little man of Nuremberg'" He played four musical instruments including the bagpipes, was an expert calligrapher, and was the most famous stage magician of his day. Yet Birchinger had no hands, legs, or thighs, and was less than 29 inches tall.
The French court dwarf Richebourg (1756–1846) was only 23 inches (0.58 m) tall. During the French Revolution he was used to pass secret messages in and out of Paris carried by nurses and disguised in an infant’s clothing.
Charles Sherwood Stratton, better known by his stage name "General Tom Thumb", was a little person who achieved great fame as a performer under circus pioneer P.T. Barnum. Stratton married his fellow dwarf Lavinia Warren on February 10, 1863. Their wedding took place at New York City's Grace Episcopal Church and the wedding reception was held at the Metropolitan Hotel. The couple stood atop a grand piano at the reception to greet some 10,000 guests. The best man at the wedding was George Washington Morrison ("Commodore") Nutt, another little person performer in Barnum's employ.
The Miami suburb of Sweetwater was founded by a troupe of traveling Russian circus dwarves who wanted to retire.
The dwarf George Nutt (April 1, 1848 – May 25, 1881) was touring New England with a circus when P. T. Barnum hired him to appear at the American Museum in New York City. Barnum gave Nutt the stage name Commodore Nutt, a wardrobe that included naval uniforms, and a miniature carriage in the shape of an English walnut. Nutt became one of the Museum's major attractions.
Adam Rainer (1899-1950) was just over 4 ft 0.25 in (122.55 cm) tall at the age of 21. He then started growing and was 7’8 by the time he died, the only man in history be classified as both a dwarf and a giant.
Court dwarfs were often used as a way to visually enhance the power and prestige of the monarch. Their small stature made them seem more childlike and innocent, which could be used to create a sense of vulnerability and need for protection. This could make the monarch appear more powerful and benevolent by comparison.
Court dwarfs were also often used as jesters or entertainers. Their physical differences made them seem strange and exotic, which could be used to make people laugh. They were also often witty and quick-witted, which could make them even more entertaining.
An eighteenth-century German dwarf named Matthew Birchinger,was known as "the little man of Nuremberg'" He played four musical instruments including the bagpipes, was an expert calligrapher, and was the most famous stage magician of his day. Yet Birchinger had no hands, legs, or thighs, and was less than 29 inches tall.
The French court dwarf Richebourg (1756–1846) was only 23 inches (0.58 m) tall. During the French Revolution he was used to pass secret messages in and out of Paris carried by nurses and disguised in an infant’s clothing.
Charles Sherwood Stratton, better known by his stage name "General Tom Thumb", was a little person who achieved great fame as a performer under circus pioneer P.T. Barnum. Stratton married his fellow dwarf Lavinia Warren on February 10, 1863. Their wedding took place at New York City's Grace Episcopal Church and the wedding reception was held at the Metropolitan Hotel. The couple stood atop a grand piano at the reception to greet some 10,000 guests. The best man at the wedding was George Washington Morrison ("Commodore") Nutt, another little person performer in Barnum's employ.
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| Charles Sherwood Stratton and Lavinia Warren wedding photo. |
The Miami suburb of Sweetwater was founded by a troupe of traveling Russian circus dwarves who wanted to retire.
The dwarf George Nutt (April 1, 1848 – May 25, 1881) was touring New England with a circus when P. T. Barnum hired him to appear at the American Museum in New York City. Barnum gave Nutt the stage name Commodore Nutt, a wardrobe that included naval uniforms, and a miniature carriage in the shape of an English walnut. Nutt became one of the Museum's major attractions.
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| Commodore Nutt in uniform, ca. 1865 |
Adam Rainer (1899-1950) was just over 4 ft 0.25 in (122.55 cm) tall at the age of 21. He then started growing and was 7’8 by the time he died, the only man in history be classified as both a dwarf and a giant.
Harry
Relph, who was just 4ft 6in (137cms) tall, was one of the UK music hall's most famous faces. He was known as Little Tich (a childhood nickname was Tichborne due to his
resemblance to a man claiming to be heir to the Tichborne baronetcy). Harry died in 1928 after a long illness, but his name lives on in our lexicon with the words 'titch' or 'titchy' meaning small.
Walt Disney chose his names for Snow White’s seven dwarfs from a list of 47 including Burpy and Shifty.
When Henry Ford took over production of the B-24 Liberator bombers for World War II, he actively recruited "little people" from Hollywood and circuses to help fasten rivets in the narrow sections of its wings. Appreciative co-workers helped lift them up to punch their time-cards.
The Ovitz family was a family of Hungarian Jewish actors/traveling musicians who were the largest family of dwarfs ever recorded. They were also the largest family to be sent to Auschwitz and survive.
In real life, the dwarves from J.R.R Tolkien's books would have Arabic or Hebrew accents, since he based their speech on Semitic languages.
When Henry Ford took over production of the B-24 Liberator bombers for World War II, he actively recruited "little people" from Hollywood and circuses to help fasten rivets in the narrow sections of its wings. Appreciative co-workers helped lift them up to punch their time-cards.
The Ovitz family was a family of Hungarian Jewish actors/traveling musicians who were the largest family of dwarfs ever recorded. They were also the largest family to be sent to Auschwitz and survive.
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| The Ovitz siblings. wikipedia |
In real life, the dwarves from J.R.R Tolkien's books would have Arabic or Hebrew accents, since he based their speech on Semitic languages.
The shortest man on record is Chandra Bahadur Dangi of Nepal. He was born on November 30, 1939, and measured 54.6 centimeters (21.5 inches) tall. He was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the shortest man in the world in 2012. Dangi died on September 3, 2015, at the age of 75.
Dangi was born in a small village in Nepal. He had a condition called achondroplasia, which is a genetic disorder that causes dwarfism. Despite his condition, Dangi lived a relatively normal life. He worked as a farmer and a porter, and he was married and had two children.
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| Shortest living Man in the world 2012 By Krish Dulal - Wikipedia Commons |
Sources Daily Mail, Lifestylesover50.com
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