Live Auction 7731Centuries of Style: Silver, European Ceramics, Portrait Miniatures and Gold Boxes
A GERMAN PARCEL-GILT SILVER AND GEM-SET CENTREPIECE FORMED AS A NEF
Lot 154

A GERMAN PARCEL-GILT SILVER AND GEM-SET CENTREPIECE FORMED AS A NEF

BY STEINICKEN AND LOHR, MUNICH, CIRCA 1907, DESIGNED BY GEORG VOGT AND EDUARD STEINICKEN

Closed2 June 2009

Price Realised

GBP 85,250

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A GERMAN PARCEL-GILT SILVER AND GEM-SET CENTREPIECE FORMED AS A NEF
BY STEINICKEN AND LOHR, MUNICH, CIRCA 1907, DESIGNED BY GEORG VOGT AND EDUARD STEINICKEN
The domed openwork base on three scroll feet, each capped with a mermaid and grotesque mask, the stem cast as a branch and supporting a parcel-gilt figure supporting a realistically cast ship at sail, set overall with cabochon stones, the foot and one sail engraved with inscription, signed on the foot
35½ in. (90.2 cm.) high
gross weight 169 oz. (5,242 gr.)
The inscription reads 'ZUR FEIER DES 50 JäHRIGEN BESTEHENS D. MECH. BINDFADEN-FABR. IMMENSTADT D. HOCHVERDIENTEN VORSTANDE H. KOMERZIENRAT EDM. PROBST GEWIDMET V. AUFSICHSRATE 28 SEPT. 1907' with translates as 'In Celebration of the 50-year anniversary of the mechanical string factory in Immenstadt, (presented) to the honoured Director Kommerzienrat Edm. Probst by the Board, 28 Sept. 1907'

The arms are those of the Probst family and the town of Immenstadt.

Specialist note

Eduard Probst was born in Kaufbeuren in southern Bavaria, though the family moved to Immendstadt by 1855 where they were involved in the formation of a string factory, which was to the first of its kind in Germany and at its peak employed 900 people and produced 3,100 tons of string per year. By 1870 Eduard and his brother Adolph had taken over the day to day operation of the firm and in 1895 Eduard took sole control. He was also, from 1879 to 1918, the Chairman of the Alpinist association of Immenstadt and in 1910 created a trust for needy workers. He was made, in 1913, an honourary citizen of Immenstadt and died there in 1918.