Lot Essay
This puzzling chest almost certainly contained an album and was probably presented to William, Prince of Orange (1792-1849), later King William II (reigned from 1840) or William, Prince of Orange (1817-1890), later King William III (reigned from 1849)
The lid is carved with the story of Lohengrin, who was already mentioned by Wolfram von Eschenbach in the 13th Century, and was one of the heroes of the legend of the Holy Grail. This saga experienced a significant revival in Germany in the first half of the 19th Century, and became the subject of Richard Wagner's opera, which he composed in 1846-48.
The ornamental mounts, which are apllied on raised contours, are identical to those found on Dutch 18th Century furniture in the French style as well as on traditional pieces. These mounts can be traced to Britain and appear in a sales catalogue of a Birmingham metalwork firm, which was almost certainly manufacturing mounts for export. (N. Goodison, 'The Vicoria and Albert Museum's Collection of Metal-Work Pattern Books', Furniture History Society Journal, 9 (1975), fig. 11)
See illustration
The lid is carved with the story of Lohengrin, who was already mentioned by Wolfram von Eschenbach in the 13th Century, and was one of the heroes of the legend of the Holy Grail. This saga experienced a significant revival in Germany in the first half of the 19th Century, and became the subject of Richard Wagner's opera, which he composed in 1846-48.
The ornamental mounts, which are apllied on raised contours, are identical to those found on Dutch 18th Century furniture in the French style as well as on traditional pieces. These mounts can be traced to Britain and appear in a sales catalogue of a Birmingham metalwork firm, which was almost certainly manufacturing mounts for export. (N. Goodison, 'The Vicoria and Albert Museum's Collection of Metal-Work Pattern Books', Furniture History Society Journal, 9 (1975), fig. 11)
See illustration