Champagne Flute Sparkling Wine Flute Fridericus Rex Prussia 1910

"Fridericus Rex" Champagne Flute, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Josephinenhütte circa 1910–1912 Gräflich Schaffgotsch'sche Josephinenhütte · FR Monogram in Relief Gold · Design: Alexander Pfohl ? · Height 18.5 cm

A champagne flute in heavy colourless glass, partially gilt, from the grand Prussian service of Emperor Wilhelm II, executed by the Gräflich Schaffgotsch'sche Josephinenhütte circa 1910–1912. Height 18.5 cm. Heavy colourless glass, partially gilt. Round foot with notched star, facet-cut stem stepped several times. Solid conical bowl in the lower section with seven pierced air pearls (Luftperlen), a raised round medallion on the front of the faceted wall bearing the gilt monogram FR in relief gold (Reliefgold) framed by military trophies — standards, cannons and rifles — outlined in burnished gold (Poliergold).

In 1912, the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederick the Great (Fredericus Rex, Frederick II of Prussia, 1712–1786) was celebrated throughout the German Empire. On this occasion, Emperor Wilhelm II commissioned this glassware service from the Josephinenhütte — the glass manufactory founded in 1842 in the Sudeten Mountains by Count Schaffgotsch, one of the most celebrated artistic glass manufactories in Germany during the Belle Époque. The design of the service, provisionally attributed to Alexander Pfohl, is conceived in the neo-Frederician 18th-century style, characteristic of Wilhelm II's historicist taste for the grandeur of Hohenzollern Prussia.

A note for the informed collector: later production runs of this model exist. The present piece, dating from circa 1910–1912, corresponds to the original production of the imperial commission. Comparable pieces are held in the collection of Schloss Wernigerode.

• Height: 18.5 cm
• Material: heavy colourless glass · burnished gold (Poliergold) and relief gold (Reliefgold)
• Decoration: monogram FR · military trophies (standards, cannons, rifles)
• Design: Alexander Pfohl (tentative attribution) ?
• Production: Gräflich Schaffgotsch'sche Josephinenhütte, circa 1910–1912
• Literature: Zelasko, Stefania, Josephinenhütte 1900–50, p. 202 · Kaiserlicher Kunstbesitz aus dem Holländischen Exil, Haus Doorn, Katalog der Staatlichen Schlösser und Gärten Berlin, 1991
• Public collections: Schloss Wernigerode
• Condition: very good · attractive

Seen in museums — available to you.

Available for viewing by appointment at our Düsseldorf gallery.

Keywords integrated: Fridericus Rex, champagne flute Kaiser Wilhelm II, Josephinenhütte Schaffgotsch 1912, FR monogram relief gold, grand Prussian service, Frederick the Great 200th anniversary, Schloss Wernigerode