Lot n° 236
Estimation :
30000 - 40000
EUR
LARGE HARD PORCELAIN VASE.
ROYAL MANUFACTURE,... - Lot 236 - Coutau-Bégarie
LARGE HARD PORCELAIN VASE.
ROYAL MANUFACTURE, BERLIN, CIRCA 1860.
ovoid model, with lateral handles ending in a griffin head with a matt gold background on a leafy background, the neck reveals a frieze of oak leaves surrounding a round medallion representing an angel carrying in his left hand a torch in matt gold on a gold background, The central part is decorated on each side with a large polychrome scene of rectangular shape representing two views of the castle of Babelsberg, residence of Emperor William I in Potsdam, on a blue background enhanced with gold motifs, alternating with swans and gold foliage. The lower part is decorated with a large frieze of gold acanthus leaves and rests on an independent square porcelain base with gold background. Slight wear from the time, small accidents on the base and the pedestal, but very good general condition.
Mark : KPM, Berlin, period 1849-1870.
Without pedestal : H. : 69 cm - W. : 38 cm.
With pedestal : H. H.: 81 cm - W.: 38 cm.
History: Babelsberg Castle, built in Potsdam between 1834 and 1849, was the summer residence of Prince William of Prussia (later William I (1797-1888), son of King Frederick William III (1770-1840). Two other palaces had already been built for his brothers, Charlottenhof for Prince Frederick William (later Frederick William IV (1795-1840) and Glienicke for Prince Charles (1801-1883). Babelsberg was a completely modern building designed in the fashionable Gothic style by the architect Charles-Friedrich Schinkel (1781-1841), on a large estate overlooking Glienicke. Wilhelm's brother, Prince Frederick William, came to the throne in 1840 and took possession of the castle, which was converted by Ludwig Persius and Heinrich Strack. A large ballroom was added with an elaborate facade, towers and a belvedere; some of these later additions can be seen on this vase. See Gert Streidt and Klaus Frahm for a full discussion of the history and development of Schloß Babelsberg, Potsdam, Palaces and Gardens of the Hohenzollern, Cologne, 1996, pp. 198-213.
Reference: a closely related vase could be paired with the one painted after Carl-Daniel Freydanck depicting the New Palace and Sans-Souci, sold on 7 October 1996 as lot 304 at Christie's. This example, dating from 1858, bears the same inscriptions as our vase, which shows on the reverse side the mark in black ink and the engraved mark n° 1-1861.
This pair is known to be a present offered by Emperor Frederick III, to the doctor of his wife, née Princess Victoria of Great Britain, after the birth of their son, William (future William II) in 1859. It also seems likely that our vase was previously a royal gift from Emperor Wilhelm I to the young couple. Another vase of the same shape and decorated with the same view of Babelsberg Castle was sold at Sotheby's, London on July 9, 1997, under lot 197.
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