Showing posts with label Germany. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Germany. Show all posts

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Boitzenburg Castle Chapel and Vaults

A fortress stood on this site as early as in the 13th century, however the beginnings of the present castle date to the 16th century when the von Armin family took it over.


The castle was remodeled many times, including in the neo-Renaissance style by Count Adolf von Armin between 1881-84 with architect Carl Doflein.


After Doflein's renovations

Doflein also led the construction of the family burial vaults between 1887-89 in the park northeast of the castle in an area called Caroline Grove (Carolinenhein). The stone mausoleum is guarded on each side by life-sized lion statues. Salviati is documented as having made mosaic decorations for both the castle's chapel, as well as the burial vaults.



The von Armin family burial vaults

The von Armin family lost the castle and the grounds to German nationalization during World War II, and the property fell into disrepair. The main building was extensively renovated in the 1990s and today is open as a hotel.


The interior of the vault is extremely deteriorated. 

The Waldkapelle Mellenau (Mellenau Forest Chapel) was built in 1906 by Anna von Armin Mellenau not far from the castle. It was extensively renovated in the 1990s and there are no signs of any mosaics.




Sources:
Barr, Sheldon. Venetian Glass Mosaics: 1860-1917. London: Antique Collectors' Club, 2008. 127.
Schloss Boitzenburg
Boitzenburg
Gasthof zum Grunen Baum
fzurell's flickr Photostream
Wikimedia Commons
AnjaundHenrik
Steffi Rose Fotografie
Hochzeitshotel

Monday, October 14, 2013

Bonn Minster

Also known as St. Martin's Cathedral, this is one of Germany's oldest churches, dating back to before the 13th century.


Salviati made a total of 800 square feet of mosaics for the portal and apse of the cathedral in 1894, modeled after cartoons by Professor Martin and Friz Geiges.


Mosaic tympanum of the Annunciation above the entry portal



Detail of the apse mosaic featuring Christ Enthroned, which is based on a depiction in Hagia Sophia and also reminiscent of the one in St. Mark's Basilica. The latter also served as the model for the portrait in St. Augustine's College, Canterbury.

Sources:
Barr, Sheldon. Venetian Glass Mosaics: 1860-1917. London: Antique Collectors' Club, 2008. 127.
Wikipedia
Sacred Destinations: Bonn Munster
Hans Weingartz on Wikimedia Commons
Erke's flickr Photostream
jaime.silva's flickr Photostream
Brian J. McMorrow on pBase

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Cafe National, Berlin

By 1886, Dr. Salviati had a shop in Berlin at Friedrich Strasse 149 (in the Central Hotel), while the Venice and Murano Company had theirs in Linden Strasse 16. Salviati mosaics decorated many buildings in the area, including the Cafe National, built by A. Vogt located on the corner of Friedrich and Jager Strasse.


The interior of the cafe contained four mosaic pictures designed by Wiener representing four different nations. The building no longer exists.


Sources:
Barr, Sheldon. Venetian Glass Mosaics: 1860-1917. London: Antique Collectors' Club, 2008. 136.
Baedeker, K. Northern Germany: Handbook for Travellers. Ninth edition. Dulau and Co., London, 1886.
eBay

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Kaiser Friedrich III Mausoleum

The structure holding the final resting place of the German emperor was added to the north side of the Protestant Church of Peace (Friedenskirche) located in Potsdam's Sanssouci Park between 1888 and 1890. The architect was Julius Raschdorff, who also designed the Berlin Dom (Cathedral) and Reichsburg Castle, the latter which also had Salviati mosaic decorations.


The cupola of the High Italian Renaissance style mausoleum can be seen to the right of the church itself.



Friedrich's sarcophagus is located in the middle of the rotunda, alongside that of his wife Empress Victoria. As the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria, she was the former Princess Royal of Great Britain and Ireland. The tombs of two of their young sons are also interred here.


Salviati adorned the tomb with mosaics, including those on the wall showing "VRI" for Victoria Regina Imperatrix, which are now missing. As seen from the recent picture above, compared to the interior in 1931 the entire lower level has been refaced in black marble. The interior of the dome is still said to contain the mosaics of alternating angels and palm trees; however, entrance to the mausoleum is restricted and no photographs have been found.

Sources:
Barr, Sheldon. Venetian Glass Mosaics: 1860-1917. London: Antique Collectors' Club, 2008. 127.
Europeana
Wikipedia
Wikimedia Commons
Friedenskirche
Stefan Hintz's flickr Photostream

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Ethnological Museum, Berlin

Located next to the Museum of Decorative Arts (also known as the Gropius Bau) at Koniggratzer Strasse 120 (now Stresemann Strasse), this museum was built in 1880-86 by architect Hermann Ende.


Otto Lessing designed cartoons of the (then) seven planets and the solar system, seasons, arts and industry, as well as phases of life which Salviati applied in mosaic to the ceiling of the circular entrance hall.




As with many of Berlin's buildings, this museum was also damaged in World War II. It served as the Museum of Pre- and Early History until 1961, when it was eventually razed.


In 1954


In 1961

The southeastern corner of Stresemann Strasse and Niederkirchner Strasse now contains a parking lot.


Sources:
Barr, Sheldon. Venetian Glass Mosaics: 1860-1917. London: Antique Collectors' Club, 2008. 136.
Grieben-Verlag. Berlin, Potsdam und Umgebungen: Praktischer Wegweiser. 118.
Westermann, George et. al. Westermanns Monatschefte. 62. G. Westermann, 1887. 375.
Academic
Staadliche Museen zu Berlin
Wolfsraum's flickriver
Architekten-Verein zu Berlin. Berlin und Seine Bauten: Der Hochbau. Berlin: W. Ernst, 1896. 228-229.
Potsdamer Platz 
Google Maps
eBay

Friday, August 23, 2013

New York Insurance Company, Berlin

Not to be confused with the New York Equitable Insurance Company at 43 Leipziger Strasse, this building was designed in 1880 by Kayser and von Grossheim and was located farther west, on the corner of Leipziger and Wilhelm Strasse.


Two facades of the palace contained Salviati mosaics of allegorical depictions of cities modeled after cartoons by Otto Lessing. They included: London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, New York, and Rome.


 

Facade detail of the mosaics featuring two cities between windows on the third and fourth levels

Although the building next to it at 125 Leipziger Strasse survived, the New York Insurance Company building was destroyed in World War II. In typical Berlin fashion, it's been replaced by a modern office building.


Sources:
Barr, Sheldon. Venetian Glass Mosaics: 1860-1917. London: Antique Collectors' Club, 2008. 136.
Grieben-Verlag. Berlin, Potsdam und Umgebungen: Praktischer Wegweiser. 140.
Guide through Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Holland and England. Berlin: J. Reichmann and Cantor, 1896. 12.
Baedeker, Karl. Northern Germany: as far as the Bavarian and Austrian frontiers. 10th ed. London: Dulau and Co., 1890. 55.
Europeana
Senatsvervaltung
Kleinanzeigen eBay
Zeno

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Halle Opera House

When this theater was built in 1886, it was known locally as the Stadt-Theater Halle. It was designed by Heinrich Christian Seeling.


Salviati's mosaic figures and ornaments, designed by Otto Lessing of Berlin, decorated the original building's western facade including the spandrels above the arched windows, as well as the niches above the staircase.


The muses of Serenity and Tragedy were depicted in the mosaics located in the flat niches.


A bomb attack on March 31, 1945 destroyed much of the theater and it was subsequently rebuilt between 1949 and 1954.


Sources:
Barr, Sheldon. Venetian Glass Mosaics: 1860-1917. London: Antique Collectors' Club, 2008. 130, 136.
Staude, Gustav. Das Stadt-theater zu Halle. 1886. 15, 59. 
Wikipedia
Wikimedia Commons
Musical-total
Theatre Database

Friday, August 9, 2013

Hennicke Villa, Berlin

Located at Rauchstrasse 19, this was the residence of German architect Julius Hennicke. It was designed in 1874 by his firm Von der Hude and Hennicke, who also designed Berlin's Central Hotel.


The central window on the main facade was decorated by Salviati mosaics after designs on Raphael's loggia.


As with many other buildings in Berlin's Tiergarten area, this house was also destroyed during World War II. Today, an apartment complex built in the early 1980s sits on the spot.


Sources:
Barr, Sheldon. Venetian Glass Mosaics: 1860-1917. London: Antique Collectors' Club, 2008. 130.
Wikipedia DE
Cambridge2000
Architecture in Berlin

Friday, August 2, 2013

Central Hotel, Berlin

Located on Friedrichstrasse between Georgenstrasse to the north and Dorotheenstrasse to the south, and facing the Central Railway Station, this grand hotel was built in 1878-80. It was designed by architects Hermann Von der Hude and Julius Hennicke.  It boasted having a telephone, electricity, three elevators, and baths on every floor.


Georgenstrasse corner with one of the building's four 98 foot high coupolas

A mosaic frieze designed by Herman Geber ran above the eighty-eight second floor windows/window-doors on the external facade. It was composed of flower garlands adorning the names of the world's most important cities on a gold background. The central panel on the Georgenstrasse corner clearly shows "Constantinopel" (sic).


The Dorotheenstrasse corner


In 1881, Salviati had a showroom in the Central Hotel, while the Venice and Murano Company had theirs nearby at 16 Lindenstrasse. Containing 600 rooms, in 1885 the Central Hotel was still the largest hotel in Germany.


The covered courtyard, or Winter Garden, held 2,500 people and it hosted one of Berlin's best-known variety theaters starting in 1887. The entire hotel was destroyed in World War II.


Dorotheenstrasse corner, March 21, 1945


The same corner today

Sources:
Barr, Sheldon. Venetian Glass Mosaics: 1860-1917. London: Antique Collectors' Club, 2008. 135.
The Builder. April 24, 1880. 504.
Baedekker's Guide Books: Northern Germany. 1881.
Wikimedia Commons Scan from book: Landesdenkmalamt Berlin (Ed.), Denkmale in Berlin, Bezirk Mitte, Ortsteil Mitte, Petersberg 2003, p. 112.
Wikimedia Commons W. Pembroke Fetridge Harper's hand-book for travellers in Europe and the east, 1, Harper & Brothers
Dr. Habbo Knoch, Habilitationsprojekt, postcard from 1898
Wikimedia Commons postcard from 1900
Wikimedia Commons destruction, March 21 1945

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Kayserzinn Headquarters, Cologne

Located on the corner of 85-87 Hohe Strasse and Bruckenstrasse, this magnificent building contained the Cologne headquarters of metalworkers J.P. Kayser & Sohn. Built 1884-86, it was actually designed by Heinrich Joseph Kayser (of Kayser and Grossheim), the younger brother of tinsmith Engelbert Kayser.


Salviati decorated the facade with mosaics of four periods, infants, and ornaments after cartoons by Otto Lessing.


Much of Cologne was destroyed in World War II, including the Kayser building which was hit in 1943, but the area has since been rebuilt. Containing many shops and leading to Cologne Cathedral, it is now a popular pedestrian area.


Sources:
Baldry, Alfred Lys. Modern Mural Decoration. London: George Newnes, Ltd., 1902. 52.
Barr, Sheldon. Venetian Glass Mosaics: 1860-1917. London: Antique Collector's Club, 2008. 136.
Bilderbuch Koeln
Wikipedia DE
Wikimedia Commons
Wikipedia

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Pringsheim Palace, Berlin

Wilhelmstrasse 67 was designed by Gustav Ebe and Julius Benda in 1873 for railway owner Rudolf Pringsheim.


Anton von Werner designed the Lebensalter ("old life") mosaic frieze on the facade that was executed by Salviati.


The house was extensively damaged during World War II and it was demolished in 1950. While the mosaics are most likely lost, von Werner's original oil paintings for the design have survived and at least one of them can be found in the Galerie Neuse in Bremen.


Juventus


Amicita


Amor

Felicitas


Ars


Exitium

Sources:
Baedeker, K. Northern Germany: Handbook for Travellers. Ninth edition. Dulau and Co., London, 1886.
Barr, Sheldon. Venetian Glass Mosaics: 1860-1917. London: Antique Collectors' Club, 2008.