Collofino
Encyclopedia
Josef Feinhals aka Collofino, was a German cigar
and cigarette
maker, patron of the arts, and writer
from Cologne
. Under his pseudonym, he wrote Non Olet ("It does not stink"), an 1100-page scatological
collection (1939). He was a good friend of Herman Hesse's and assisted Hesse in some of his projects. His pseudonym, Collofino, is Italian
for "slender neck," an approximate translation of his real name, "Feinhals."
, having contributed to the 1906 Art Exhibit in Cologne. His company also supported individual artists, such as his friend, the poet Johannes Theodor Kuhlemann (1891-1939), who had worked for eight years in Feinhals's "tobacco museum." Kuhlemann subsequently wrote a book on tobacco, Vom Tabak, which Feinhals published in 1936.
," the character "Collofino der Rauchzauberer" ("Collofino the Smoke Magician") is based on Feinhals. In turn, Feinhals helped Hesse with translating German passages into Latin for Hesse's magnum opus
, The Glass Bead Game
, for which he is thanked and named as "Collof."
Non Olet, privately published in 1939 under the pseudonym Collofino, is a "rare eccentric compilation on scatology and smoking, with songs and verse." The "thousand page compendium and discussion" is representative of what has been called "a strong anal component in [the German] national character." The book contains anecdotes and observations, a number of which Collofino claims to have gleaned from old German chronicles. It also includes the proposal for a society which should occupy itself with various matters related to feces. For instance, the society should study the fart
as "a natural phenomenon, a problem in pneumatics, an acoustic phenomenon, an insult, a means of defense, an educator," and in "its dependence on other functions, its relation to the cosmos, in literature, in society, in politics, in its relation with subordinates," as well as "among the church fathers."
, built 1908-1909, completed by Bruno Paul
, and destroyed in World War II
. Here he had a noteworthy collection of modern art on display.
Cigar
A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, and the Eastern...
and cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
maker, patron of the arts, and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
from Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
. Under his pseudonym, he wrote Non Olet ("It does not stink"), an 1100-page scatological
Scatology
In medicine and biology, scatology or coprology is the study of feces.Scatological studies allow one to determine a wide range of biological information about a creature, including its diet , healthiness, and diseases such as tapeworms. The word derives from the Greek σκώρ In medicine and biology,...
collection (1939). He was a good friend of Herman Hesse's and assisted Hesse in some of his projects. His pseudonym, Collofino, is Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
for "slender neck," an approximate translation of his real name, "Feinhals."
Patron of the arts
Feinhals is praised as an important supporter of the expressionist movement in the RhinelandRhineland
Historically, the Rhinelands refers to a loosely-defined region embracing the land on either bank of the River Rhine in central Europe....
, having contributed to the 1906 Art Exhibit in Cologne. His company also supported individual artists, such as his friend, the poet Johannes Theodor Kuhlemann (1891-1939), who had worked for eight years in Feinhals's "tobacco museum." Kuhlemann subsequently wrote a book on tobacco, Vom Tabak, which Feinhals published in 1936.
Feinhals and Hesse
Feinhals was a friend of Herman Hesse, who had stayed in his Marienburg villa in 1914. Hesse made a number of (sometimes oblique) references to him and the antiquarian anecdotes he had collected in Die Geschichten des Collofino, a book privately published in 1918. In Hesse's short story "Journey to the EastJourney to the East
Journey to the East is a short novel by German author Hermann Hesse. It was first published in German in 1932 as "Die Morgenlandfahrt". This novel came directly after his biggest international success, Narcissus and Goldmund.-Plot summary:...
," the character "Collofino der Rauchzauberer" ("Collofino the Smoke Magician") is based on Feinhals. In turn, Feinhals helped Hesse with translating German passages into Latin for Hesse's magnum opus
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
, The Glass Bead Game
The Glass Bead Game
The Glass Bead Game is the last full-length novel and magnum opus of the German author Hermann Hesse. Begun in 1931 and published in Switzerland in 1943, after being rejected for publication in Germany, the book was mentioned in Hesse's citation for the 1946 Nobel Prize for Literature."Glass Bead...
, for which he is thanked and named as "Collof."
Books authored
Die Geschichten des Collofino (1918) is a collection of anecdotes and observations. Privately published by the author and printed by Dumont Schauberg in Cologne, the book is very rare.Non Olet, privately published in 1939 under the pseudonym Collofino, is a "rare eccentric compilation on scatology and smoking, with songs and verse." The "thousand page compendium and discussion" is representative of what has been called "a strong anal component in [the German] national character." The book contains anecdotes and observations, a number of which Collofino claims to have gleaned from old German chronicles. It also includes the proposal for a society which should occupy itself with various matters related to feces. For instance, the society should study the fart
Fart
Fart is an English language vulgarism most commonly used in reference to flatulence. The word "fart" is generally considered unsuitable in a formal environment by modern English speakers, and it may be considered vulgar or offensive in some situations. Fart can be used as a noun or a verb...
as "a natural phenomenon, a problem in pneumatics, an acoustic phenomenon, an insult, a means of defense, an educator," and in "its dependence on other functions, its relation to the cosmos, in literature, in society, in politics, in its relation with subordinates," as well as "among the church fathers."
Villa in Marienburg
Feinhals lived in a villa designed by Joseph Maria OlbrichJoseph Maria Olbrich
Joseph Maria Olbrich was an Austrian architect and co-founder of the Vienna Secession.-Life:Olbrich was born in Opava, Austrian Silesia .He was the third child of Edmund and Aloisia Olbrich. He had two sisters who died before he was born, and two younger brothers John and Edmund...
, built 1908-1909, completed by Bruno Paul
Bruno Paul
Bruno Paul was a German architect, illustrator, interior designer, and furniture designer.Bruno Paul was born in Seifhennersdorf, a village in rural Saxony, in 1874. His father was an independent tradesman, craftsman, and dealer in building materials...
, and destroyed in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Here he had a noteworthy collection of modern art on display.