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拍品專文
This impressive royal garniture was commissioned by Frederick Wilhelm IV King of Prussia on the 6th of November 1850 and given to his close military confidant Georg II, Crown Prince of Saxe-Meiningen upon his marriage to Princess Charlotte Frederica, the King's highly eligible and attractive niece. A detailed line-item ledger identifying the garniture and matching dessert service survives at the Berlin K.P.M. Archive (copies available on request). The entry records a multi-vase garniture and a related dessert service for fifty. See the registry, Pret II, Contobuch Sr. Maj. des Königs 1818-1850, p. 172-175. The King's registry for that date notes "For SR: Highness the ERB Prince of Saxony: Meiningen". The corresponding topographical views and details match exactly and the cost of production is itemized.
Georg II fought alongside the Prussian forces during the Franco-Prussian War and is remembered for leading two regiments of soldiers from Meiningen to victory at the Battle of Froeschweiler. Reference to this event is likely depicted on the central vase through an allegory of Renaissance warriors defending a bridge; the obverse is painted with the State coat-of-arms and heraldic bearings for the Archdukes and Dukes of Saxe-Meiningen. The loving couple lived in Berlin and Potsdam for the first five years after their marriage before returning to Meiningen for the birth of their children. Reflecting this newlywed period, the flanking vases are finely painted front and back with topographical views including: Schloss Sanssouci and Schloss Babelsberg, The Prince's Palace Albrecht and a view of the Long Bridge before the King's Palace in Berlin.
Königl. Schlosses Sanssouci
The view of the Palace of Sanssouci was derived from Carl Daniel Freydanck's dated painting of 1843 held at the K.P.M. archive, Schloss Charlottenburg [Inv. Nr. 173]. Sanssouci, the extraordinary pavilion and country residence of Frederick the Great was built by the architect Georg von Knobeldorff between 1745 and 1747. The terraced gardens below it commanded superb views over Potsdam and were originally finely manicured and planted with fruit, but by the 19th century they appear to have fallen into disrepair and become overgrown. The grounds of the palace were extended and remodeled as part of a larger vision for the Potsdam area by Peter Joseph Lenné (1789-1866).
In 1836, the cast-iron bridge over the Schafgraben (Sheep Canal) in the foreground was built by the architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel (with whom Lenné frequently collaborated), replacing the earlier much simpler bridge. After succeeding to the throne in 1840, Frederick Wilhelm IV, improved the water pressure of the great fountain just beyond the bridge by installing a steam engine in 1842 which pumped water up the Ruinenberg to a reservoir. Previously, the great fountain had rarely been in use because there was insufficient water pressure. The basin of the fountain was replaced by a larger one, and by 1848 the surround of sculptures and stone benches resembled the configuration illustrated on the present lot.
Schloss Babelsberg
This English Gothic style summer palace in Potsdam was commission by Prince William (Frederick Wilhelm IV's oldest brother), and his wife, Augusta, Princess of Sachsen-Weimar. Over the period 1835-1849, the architectural plan put forward by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Ludwig Persius and Princess Augusta was modified and completed after Schinkel's death by and Johann Heinrich Strack. For a porcelain tray from a Royal presentation travel service painted with a view of Babelsberg, see the Bard Exhibition Catalogue, Along the Royal Road, Berlin and Potsdam in KPM Porcelain and Painting 1815-1848, New York, 1993, p. 174. For a 'Veduten-Maler' amphora vase with griffin handles also painted with this view, see Christie's, New York, 18 October 2002, lot 461.
Palais Prinz Albrecht
The Palais Prinz Albrecht in Berlin is a Rococo residence originally constructed in 1737-1739. In 1830 it was acquired by Prince Albert (the youngest brother of King Frederick William IV ) and his wife Princess Marianna of the Netherlands (Princess Charlotte's parents). Prince Albert seeking to remodel the palace as his residence also turned to the architectual team Schinkel and Lenné. The surrounding grounds, designed by Lenné, included a riding stable and an ice rink open to the public.
Das Königliche Schloss und die Lange Brücke
The Long Bridge before the King's palace in Berlin was built on the foundation of an earlier bridge after designs by Johann Arnold Nering. Opened in 1703, the newly constructed bridge featured an equestrian figure of the Electoral Prince Frederick I. In the mid-19th century Schinkel designed a cast-iron railing for the bridge incorporating seahorses, dolphins and triton as well as adding sculptural elements to the overall design. For a detailed study of Lange Brücke see Ilse and Winfried Baer et al., Carl Daniel Freydanck 1811-1887 Ein Veduten-maler der KPM, 1987, Schloss Charlottenburg Exhibition Catalogue, 6th June - 30th August 1987, p. 87, Kat. 8 [Inv. Nr. 45].
We gratefully acknowledge Samuel Wittwer, the curator at The Foundation of Prussian palaces and gardens Berlin-Brandenburg, KPM archive (State of Berlin) for locating the archival details confirming this attribution.
Below is an itemized listing of the heraldic bearing for the coat-of-arms resting on an ermine-lined mantel. The itemization should be read from left to right/top to bottom:
1. Landgrafschaft Thüringen
2. Herzogtum Cleve
3. Markgrafschaft Meissen
4. Herzogtum Jülich
5. a and b Grafschaft Landsberg
6. Herzogtum Berg
7. Pfalz-Sachsen
8. Grafschaft Orlamünde
9. Pfalz-Thüringen
10. Herrschaft Eisenberg
11. Herrschaft Pleissen
12. Burggrafschaft Altenburg
13. Ein lediges rotes Feld wegen der Regalien/Steuern auf die nur der König Anspruch hatte/
14. Grafschaft Brena
15/17. Herrschaft Römhild und Gefurstete/Grafschaft Heneberg sovereign country/
18. Grafschaft Ravensberg
Please find the six helms itemized below:
1. Herzogtum Sachsen
2. Landgrafschaft Thüringen
3. Gefrstete Grafschaft Heneberg
4. Markgrafschaft Meissen
5. Herzogtum Jülich
6. Herzogtum Berg
Georg II fought alongside the Prussian forces during the Franco-Prussian War and is remembered for leading two regiments of soldiers from Meiningen to victory at the Battle of Froeschweiler. Reference to this event is likely depicted on the central vase through an allegory of Renaissance warriors defending a bridge; the obverse is painted with the State coat-of-arms and heraldic bearings for the Archdukes and Dukes of Saxe-Meiningen. The loving couple lived in Berlin and Potsdam for the first five years after their marriage before returning to Meiningen for the birth of their children. Reflecting this newlywed period, the flanking vases are finely painted front and back with topographical views including: Schloss Sanssouci and Schloss Babelsberg, The Prince's Palace Albrecht and a view of the Long Bridge before the King's Palace in Berlin.
Königl. Schlosses Sanssouci
The view of the Palace of Sanssouci was derived from Carl Daniel Freydanck's dated painting of 1843 held at the K.P.M. archive, Schloss Charlottenburg [Inv. Nr. 173]. Sanssouci, the extraordinary pavilion and country residence of Frederick the Great was built by the architect Georg von Knobeldorff between 1745 and 1747. The terraced gardens below it commanded superb views over Potsdam and were originally finely manicured and planted with fruit, but by the 19th century they appear to have fallen into disrepair and become overgrown. The grounds of the palace were extended and remodeled as part of a larger vision for the Potsdam area by Peter Joseph Lenné (1789-1866).
In 1836, the cast-iron bridge over the Schafgraben (Sheep Canal) in the foreground was built by the architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel (with whom Lenné frequently collaborated), replacing the earlier much simpler bridge. After succeeding to the throne in 1840, Frederick Wilhelm IV, improved the water pressure of the great fountain just beyond the bridge by installing a steam engine in 1842 which pumped water up the Ruinenberg to a reservoir. Previously, the great fountain had rarely been in use because there was insufficient water pressure. The basin of the fountain was replaced by a larger one, and by 1848 the surround of sculptures and stone benches resembled the configuration illustrated on the present lot.
Schloss Babelsberg
This English Gothic style summer palace in Potsdam was commission by Prince William (Frederick Wilhelm IV's oldest brother), and his wife, Augusta, Princess of Sachsen-Weimar. Over the period 1835-1849, the architectural plan put forward by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Ludwig Persius and Princess Augusta was modified and completed after Schinkel's death by and Johann Heinrich Strack. For a porcelain tray from a Royal presentation travel service painted with a view of Babelsberg, see the Bard Exhibition Catalogue, Along the Royal Road, Berlin and Potsdam in KPM Porcelain and Painting 1815-1848, New York, 1993, p. 174. For a 'Veduten-Maler' amphora vase with griffin handles also painted with this view, see Christie's, New York, 18 October 2002, lot 461.
Palais Prinz Albrecht
The Palais Prinz Albrecht in Berlin is a Rococo residence originally constructed in 1737-1739. In 1830 it was acquired by Prince Albert (the youngest brother of King Frederick William IV ) and his wife Princess Marianna of the Netherlands (Princess Charlotte's parents). Prince Albert seeking to remodel the palace as his residence also turned to the architectual team Schinkel and Lenné. The surrounding grounds, designed by Lenné, included a riding stable and an ice rink open to the public.
Das Königliche Schloss und die Lange Brücke
The Long Bridge before the King's palace in Berlin was built on the foundation of an earlier bridge after designs by Johann Arnold Nering. Opened in 1703, the newly constructed bridge featured an equestrian figure of the Electoral Prince Frederick I. In the mid-19th century Schinkel designed a cast-iron railing for the bridge incorporating seahorses, dolphins and triton as well as adding sculptural elements to the overall design. For a detailed study of Lange Brücke see Ilse and Winfried Baer et al., Carl Daniel Freydanck 1811-1887 Ein Veduten-maler der KPM, 1987, Schloss Charlottenburg Exhibition Catalogue, 6th June - 30th August 1987, p. 87, Kat. 8 [Inv. Nr. 45].
We gratefully acknowledge Samuel Wittwer, the curator at The Foundation of Prussian palaces and gardens Berlin-Brandenburg, KPM archive (State of Berlin) for locating the archival details confirming this attribution.
Below is an itemized listing of the heraldic bearing for the coat-of-arms resting on an ermine-lined mantel. The itemization should be read from left to right/top to bottom:
1. Landgrafschaft Thüringen
2. Herzogtum Cleve
3. Markgrafschaft Meissen
4. Herzogtum Jülich
5. a and b Grafschaft Landsberg
6. Herzogtum Berg
7. Pfalz-Sachsen
8. Grafschaft Orlamünde
9. Pfalz-Thüringen
10. Herrschaft Eisenberg
11. Herrschaft Pleissen
12. Burggrafschaft Altenburg
13. Ein lediges rotes Feld wegen der Regalien/Steuern auf die nur der König Anspruch hatte/
14. Grafschaft Brena
15/17. Herrschaft Römhild und Gefurstete/Grafschaft Heneberg sovereign country/
18. Grafschaft Ravensberg
Please find the six helms itemized below:
1. Herzogtum Sachsen
2. Landgrafschaft Thüringen
3. Gefrstete Grafschaft Heneberg
4. Markgrafschaft Meissen
5. Herzogtum Jülich
6. Herzogtum Berg