Lot Essay
Apparently given by Prinz Friedrich (1831-1888), later Kaiser Friedrich III, to Queen Victoria's doctor, Sir James Clarke, on the safe delivery of his son, Wilhelm (1859-1941), later Kaiser Wilhelm II. Friedrich III was married to Victoria, Princess of Great Britain, daughter of Queen Victoria.
The form is essentially the Französischen form but with the very unusual addition of the griffin's head handles. The scenes are taken from oil paintings by Carl Daniel Freydanck (1811-1887). The view of the magnificent terrace at Sanssouci was executed by Freydanck in 1843. Sanssouci, the extraordinary pavilion and country residence of Frederick the Great was built by the architect Georg von Knobeldorff between 1745 and 1747. The terraces were originally were finely manicured and planted with fruit, but by the 19th century they appear to have fallen into disrepair and become overgrown. It was only in 1842 that the waterworks became fully functional, and the fountain was an immediate sensation. See Ilse Baer et al., Along the Royal Road (1993), p. 192, no. 74.
The majestic Neues Palais was built between 1763-69 and designed by the architects Johann Gottfried Büring and Heinrich Ludwig Manger, although Frederick the Great was so intimately involved in the design and construction that many felt it was his inspiration. For a discussion of the building and other views see Ilse Baer et al., ibid. (1993), pp. 202-203, nos. 81 and 82.
The form is essentially the Französischen form but with the very unusual addition of the griffin's head handles. The scenes are taken from oil paintings by Carl Daniel Freydanck (1811-1887). The view of the magnificent terrace at Sanssouci was executed by Freydanck in 1843. Sanssouci, the extraordinary pavilion and country residence of Frederick the Great was built by the architect Georg von Knobeldorff between 1745 and 1747. The terraces were originally were finely manicured and planted with fruit, but by the 19th century they appear to have fallen into disrepair and become overgrown. It was only in 1842 that the waterworks became fully functional, and the fountain was an immediate sensation. See Ilse Baer et al., Along the Royal Road (1993), p. 192, no. 74.
The majestic Neues Palais was built between 1763-69 and designed by the architects Johann Gottfried Büring and Heinrich Ludwig Manger, although Frederick the Great was so intimately involved in the design and construction that many felt it was his inspiration. For a discussion of the building and other views see Ilse Baer et al., ibid. (1993), pp. 202-203, nos. 81 and 82.