European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 18, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Hansel a figure that first adorned a 14th-Century Nurnberg Fountain draws attention from american children. The Joys of Germany a National museum in English guided Tours of the trivial and the terrific a amps photos by Ron Jensen by Ron Jensen Nurnberg Bureau a museum Rosie Hays was telling visitors to the Germani Sches National museum in Nurnberg is a time machine Quot we use our imagination for Power Quot she said. On the third sunday of every month this sprawling Eclectic museum conducts special Tours for English speaking visitors. With a Little bit of imagination visitors in March were taken Back to the time of knights in shining Armor to the Days when Nurnberg was at the Hub of 12 european Trade routes and to the year that Christopher Columbus bumped into a new world. That was in fact the theme of the tour highlighting 1492. In an Odd piece of coincidence the total attendance at the annual open House for English speaking visitors in 1991 was 1,492, Quot a a the English oriented programs were started in 1983, said Gesine stalling who is in charge of adult and family programs at the museum. Quot people come from All Over Germany Quot she said. That was True on the most recent Day. Capt. Roger Garrett and his family drove from Pir Masens. When his son Harlan 9, was asked what he had Learned on this Day the father answered Quot it s a Long Way to  Pat Garrett the captains wife said the family made the trip for educational reasons. Quot we wanted to learn More about what was going on Back in those years Quot she said. Quot it just sounded like it was  tomorrow a easter a is the third sunday of the month and the museum will feature the houses used by the monks of the carthusian monastery which forms the Center of the museum. On May 17, the program will feature modes of travel through history. The March tour featured several programs from doll houses to weapons to curious musical instruments to bookbinding and printing. An observant visitor could learn Many things. For example when Nasa was designing spacesuits it examined the old suits of Armor for hints on How to make them flexible. That bit of information came from Tom Gill a fourth Grade teacher at Kalb elementary school in Furth and like the other guides for the open House he was a Volunteer. The Schusse Feider ship a 500-year-old table Centrepiece is considered one of the finest examples of the Goldsmith s Art. American Harlan Garrett 9, arrived from Pir Masens Germany. He was also in fact full of interesting facts. For example Ever wonder what knights did with their Chain Quot mail Armor when it wore out Quot they sent it Down to the Kitchen Quot Gill said. Quot and what did they do with it they washed pots and pans with  it was he said an Early brillo scouring pad there were other Tours targeting children. Deni Hartl was showing several children the museum s collection of doll houses. One was a miniature House of a spice merchant. Quot where do you get cinnamon Quot Hartl asked them. The answer was too obvious Quot the commissary Quot a child offered. Hays tour featured a 1497 woodcarving of a tax Man accepting payment from a sad looking merchant. Hays pointed out that the tax Man was Blind. Quot what that represents is he is fair he takes taxes from everybody Quot she said. Columbus voyage that opened up the age of exploration coincided with new developments at Home said Ute Heise who conducted the Quot Nurnberg circa 1492&Quot tour. The end of the 15th Century marked an end to the Middle Ages and a beginning of the Renaissance she said. That is evident in the Art and the crafts of Nurnberg. Prior to this time nearly All Art had biblical tones she said. But More Pagan motifs began to creep into the artwork and a Nurnberg artist was at the forefront of the movement Quot Albrecht Durer embodies this transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance in Germany Quot she said. Using his work exhibited on the Walls of the museum she pointed out that his Art was mathematically planned with each portion of the painting meticulously calculated Garmar Sachsi National museum a Gold Eagle shaped clasp from the 6th Century. To coincide. His 1500 painting of Hercules is important because it portrays the greek god in the nude which until then was reserved Only for bib Ficay figures a the Anatomy of the figure is Correct. The Muscles Are in their right place a Heise said. Quot that is new  at the same time Niernberg craftsmen were becoming famous worldwide for their work. Metalworkers made everything from weapons to Copper bowls some of which Are on display at the museum. An annual inventors fair held in Nurnberg to this Day got it Start because of the number of inventions created Here during the 16th Century including Many tools such As the lathe and the Vise and Many types of compasses. The museum holds the oldest known pocket watch built by a Nirnberger in 1510. Heise pointed out As Well that Nurnberger were avid collectors bringing into their Homes items brought from exotic new worlds. Quot they would exhibit them in so called arts and curiosities cabinets a she said those cabinets were the forerunners of today s museums time machines if you will from an earlier Era. Source Germani Sches National museums amps Ute Heise a Volunteer museum guide gives americans a crash course in Art history explaining the Pivotal Rofe played by Early Renaissance German artist Albrecht Durer. Page 14 a the stars and stripes saturday Arm is 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 15