| Most of these photos once belonged to my
great-grandparents, Anna and Carl Mazanti. Their son
Erik, my grandfather, helped me identifying many of them
in his last years. Click on the
small pictures! |
 |
Carl Emanuel
Mazanti, casual labourer in Odense, Funen and
his wife, Johanne Pedersdatter Krogh -
founders of the Mazanti family's younger branch. Carl was
half Italian, half Polish. Both were born in Denmark
in 1800. Judged by their looks the photo was taken about
1860. The children probably paid for the photographing as
the parents were poor. |
| The rest of the pictures are reproducing
Carl Mazanti and Johanne Krogh's children, grandchildren
and great-grandchildren. |
 |
I'm quite confident
this is Carl Ferdinand Mazanti, journeyman miller near
Vejle, Jutland and his wife Magdalene Fibiger (about 1875).
Carl Ferdinand, born 1825, was the oldest son of Carl and
Johanne Mazanti. |
 |
Caroline Amalie
Sophie Mazanti, called Amalie (born 1858), a photo taken
in Vejle, Jutland. Daughter of Carl Ferdinand og
Magdalene Mazanti. Quite early she became a widow. |
 |
Carpenter Alexander
Mazanti's widow Dorthea, Carl and Johanne Mazanti's
daughter-in-law (1924). Accompanied by her nephew's
grandson, Claus Mazanti, and the child's great-grandfather,
baker Jens Hansen. Old Dorthea came to live at her nephew
Carl Mazanti's to be nursed in the short time she had
left - but she thrived and lived there for eight years! |
 |
Hans Peter Mazanti,
Carl and Johanne Mazanti's second-youngest son, a young
shoemaker in Odense about 1860. 1857, when he got his
journeyman's certificate, his master gave him a coat, a
pair of trousers, a waistcoat, a hat and a pair of boots
(according to the contract as a trainee) - probably the
cloth he wore when having this photo taken. |
 |
1862 Hans Peter
Mazanti married Cathrine Hansen. These toodlers are their
oldest children, Carl (born 1865) and Peter (born 1863). |
 |
Hans Peter and
Cathrine Mazanti (about 1875). During this period they
went through many sorrows - they lost five small children.
A child died in 1869, another one in 1874, two ones in
1875 and finally a child in 1881. |
 |
An older version of
Cathrine and Hans Peter Mazanti, maybe at their silver
wedding in 1887. |
 |
Hans Peter and
Cathrine Mazanti and five of their children (1893). To
the right: Johanne and Johannes, foremost Cathrine, Betty
(with her baby Ellen, born Oct. 1892) and Carl. The photo
was taken in the garden behind the home in Nørregade 50. |
 |
Nørregade 50,
Odense (1896/97). 1880 Hans Peter Mazanti's father-in-law
made over the house to him. 1896 the son Johannes started
his farrier business at the adress - the sign above the
gateway says "Mazanti - Farrier". On the ground
floor: a hosier and a gardener. |
 |
A section of the
previous photo - the windows at the second floor to the
right. Hans Peter Mazanti peeps out to the right, to the
left the youngest daughter Cathrine (Nine) can be seen
with a dog and behind her you can faintly see her sister
Johanne who died in 1898. |
 |
Martinus Mazanti,
born 1844, Carl and Johanne Mazanti's youngest son, and
his second wife Sophie. For many years the couple had got a
tobacconist's at Nørregade 50. |
| After
this all the photos are depicting Hans Peter og Cathrine
Mazanti's children, children-in-law and grandchildren. |
 |
Hans Peter og
Cathrine's surviving children (five died when small) at
the oldest son Peter's wedding day, 28th March 1889. The
boys: Peter, Carl and Johannes - the girls: Johanne,
Cathrine and Betty. |
 |
The bride and goom,
Marie Christiansen and Peter Mazanti. Marie was waiting
in Odense when her fiancée worked in Germany or
Switzerland with his brother Carl. Carl wrote in a letter
for his parents: "Not many men have got such
a good little Marie which she is..." |
 |
Peter Mazanti in København
some years before - probably before his departure
southwards towards painter jobs. |
 |
Three young tradesmen
in Odense about 1888/89 - some self-assured guys! Peter
Mazanti is sitting to the right, in front his brother
Carl, the guy to the left is a friend. They
had been working in Germany and Switzerland for some
years and without doubt they had become men of the world,
returning to good old Odense! |
 |
Master painter Peter
Mazanti (about 1907). For years the relationship between
him and the rest of the family was bad because of
disagreement in money matters but they were reconciled. |
 |
Marie Mazanti, Peters
wife, two years before her death (1919). Both husband and
wife passed away early - at 60 he died, she was 56 years old. |
 |
Marie and Peter
Mazanti's sons, Christian Peder (born 1892) and Fritz (born
1893). Christian Peder went to California but died when
young. Fritz became a dentist and was living in
Switzerland for some time. |
 |
Carl Mazanti, Hans
Peter Mazanti's son, in Copenhagen about 1883-85. March
1883 Carl had served his painter apprenticeship,
afterwards he worked with master painters in Copenhagen
until the summer of 1885. Subsequently he went to Leipzig,
Germany. He worked in Germany and Switzerland for three years. |
 |
In July 1898 Carl
Mazanti, very much in love, gave his fiancée a photo:
"I am sending my pretty? face to my beloved little
Anna, indeed it is taken 4-5 years ago when I had a
pointed beard but probably you'll recognize me..." I
think this is the mentioned photo - Carl certainly has
got a pointed beard here. |
 |
The object of Carl's
choice, the cook Anna Hansen (in the middle), in
Copenhagen about 1895. The girl to the right (probably)
is Eline Henningsen, housemaid in the
household in which Anna worked too. Eline introduced Anna
to the Mazanti family. The girl to the left probably is
the nanny. |
 |
Carl and Anna got
married in October 1898, following four months of
engagement. This is a section of a letter, written by
Carl for Anna shortly before the wedding. It says: "Good
Night my Darling! This spot is a kiss for my girl, kiss it!" |
 |
Apparently no wedding
photo exists but this is Carl og Anna in August 1900,
presenting their first child, Carl. |
 |
Soon the family grew,
1912 they had six children: in front Erik, Eigin and
little Thorkild, behind them Grethe, Carl and Rigmor. |
 |
About 1913 Carl Mazanti painted a
fancy poster for the United Distilleries, representing a blown-up
bottle of akvavit. Proudly he sent for a photographer and had it
immortalized with his youngest children, Thorkild and Erik. |
 |
As the climax of Carl and Anna's
familiy Ruth
Mazanti was born. This is 2-year-old Ruth (1916). |
 |
When Carl Mazanti was
51 years old his 25th anniversary as a master painter was
celebrated. Probably this photo dates from that period. |
 |
Anna Mazanti, née
Hansen (about 1915). |
 |
Anna and Carl Mazanti
in their garden at Nørrebro 37 in Odense, winter 1921-22.
At that time they had got seven children at the ages 7-22.
Soon Anna became a widow - in May 1922 Carl died from a thrombosis. |
 |
The rest of the family
has joined. Between Anna og Carl: the oldest son, Carl,
and his fiancée Ellen Lumholdt. To the right the son
Erik, to the left the daughter Grethe and her fiancée,
Thorvald Rasmussen. The youngest children: Thorkild and
Ruth. Rigmor and Eigin are missing. |
 |
Ruth Mazanti
(wearing girl scout's uniform), the youngest child, a sweet and lively
girl - but 1929 she died when she was only 14. She died from
injuries following a pointless accident. Because of a driver's
incautiousness a car hit the poor girl, standing on the pavement
and looking on a shopwindow. |
 |
Betty Mazanti, born
1867, Hans Peter Mazanti's oldest daughter. Maybe at her confirmation? |
 |
Betty married Carl
Andersen who became a gasworks manager at the small port
Fakse Ladeplads at Eastern Zealand. Here the family are sitting by their
house, accompanied by guests from Odense (about 1910). From the left
Rigmor Mazanti, Carl with the daughter Lilly, Hans Peter Mazanti with
Eigin Mazanti, Betty with Grethe Mazanti. Kathrine, daughter of the
house, is standing in the background. |
 |
The Andersen family about 1915. Betty and Carl are sitting on each side of
the afterthought Lilly; behind them the older children,
Kathrine, Carl and Ellen are standing. |
 |
Youngest surviving
son among Hans Peter Mazanti's children, Johannes, born
1872. His second name was Krogh and that's what his
siblings called him. When he was a boy he wanted to
become a painter like his older brothers but later on he
changed his mind and became a blacksmith. |
 |
Johannes Mazanti when
he was a soldier. 1890 he got his journeyman's
certificate and this photo was probably taken in one of
the following years. |
 |
Johannes Mazanti and
his wife Laura in 1909, accompanied by six of their seven
children. Behind: the sons Johannes og Emil, in front of
them Johanne og William and foremost the little ones,
Laura og Gudrun (Gudde). Gerda was born in 1910. |
 |
Four little Mazantis,
1901. Left: Carl Mazanti's children, Carl and Rigmor,
right: their 1st cousins Emil and Johannes, Johannes
Mazanti's sons. |
 |
14 1st cousins about
1917: Carl Mazanti's 7 children (A) and Johannes
Mazanti's 7 children (B). In front: Erik (A), Rigmor (A),
Ruth (A), Johannes (B), Laura (B), Gerda (B), Thorkild (A)
and Carl (A). Behind: Emil (B), Grethe (A), Eigin (A),
Gudrun (B), William (B) and Johanne Margrethe (B). |
 |
Johanne Mazanti, born
1876, Hans Peter Mazanti's daughter. Her death at the age
of 22 was very tragical. She caught thyphoid fever and
was hospitalized - but a high temperature made her insane
and she threw herself out of a window. |
 |
Hans Peter Mazanti's
youngest daughters, Cathrine, born 1879 (called Nine) and
Johanne (pet name Grethe). 1895 the girls lost their
mother and after that they were responsible for the housekeeping. |
 |
Johanne and Nine
Mazanti. Losing her beloved sister was a terrible loss
for Nine. But it was a comfort when her brother Carl soon
after married their friend Anna Hansen. Anna was like an
older sister to her. In a letter she told Anna that poor
Johanne's greatest wish had now become true, "she
always wanted you to be together." |
 |
Cathrine (Nine)
Mazanti and engineer William Norden. They had this
photograph taken in Copenhagen where they settled down
after the wedding in September 1906. The photo was
probably taken shortly afterwards. |
 |
Cathrine and William
Norden about 1917, with the four daughters, Karen, Bodil,
Else and Grete. |
 |
William and Cathrine
Norden. For many years they lived in the port
Frederikshavn in Northern Jutland, William procuring
sailors for the ships. |
 |
The Norden couple and
the four daughters in the family's living room at a
festive occation, probably the silver wedding in 1931. |
| Home
| Webmaster |
