Prussia, Zollverein - Expo Paris 1855

From there, if we turn our eyes to the left, we find ourselves in front of four boxes elegantly decorated with red velvet, on which white arabesques in stoneboard stand out. These are the trophies of Prussia and of the states which have exhibited collectively with her. The first box contains embroideries from the mountains of Saxony, where, as in Switzerland, a large population is engaged in this industry. The beautiful workmanship and the excessive cheapness will be noticed. One will see embroidered waistcoats at 5 and 6 fr; the embroidered velvet waistcoat, 20 fr, etc. Mr. Hietel, from Leipsic, has composed crepe and hair embroideries on white silk fabrics. Among the paintings embroidered with needle hair, a very well executed work, one will notice the portrait of the King of Saxony, and another of Napoleon 111, at a price of 200 fr.; a well drawn horse, etc. The back of this box seems to be intended for a mirror from the Manheim factory, according to the inscription on it, but the piece is not there.

In front of this logo, a two-metre-high bronze statue stands before us. This statue represents King Frederick William III, father of the present monarch, in Roman costume. It is cut after the model of Mr. Kiss and exhibited by the Royal School of Arts and Crafts in Berlin: the most remarkable thing about it is the chiselling and inlaying of gold and silver with which it is decorated. The gold and silver used for this purpose are worth 6,750 fr. The price of the work carried out, which lasted three years, makes a total of 25,330 fr, not counting the casting and the model. It is intended to adorn the School from which it came.

In front of this statue, a small exhibition attracts by the fame of the name and the perfume that it spreads.

The reader will have guessed that it is the eau de Cologne exhibited by the illustrious and eternal Jean-Marie Farina. On red velvet lie the productions of the sculptors and ornamentalists of the unfinished Cologne Cathedral. Cornices, spires and other ornaments are shown, executed with a perfect finish in sandstone. On the other side, stereoscopes set up on a table will amuse the visitor by the perfect clarity of their images, which stand out marvellously and rise up before the eye after a few seconds.

In front of these objects and opposite the four trophies, a Flora surrounded by deer in extra-natural size, and other garden ornaments, in zinc covered with a layer of copper by electroplating, have been placed. These objects are cast without retouching and are distinguished by their elegant forms and cheapness. The two gilded deer, which come from the workshops of Messrs Devaranne and Winkelmann, in Berlin, are made after the model of the famous sculptor Rauch, and cost 1900 fr.

Let us return to the second trophy, which contains the fine stoneware and pale pottery decorated with colours, gold and platinum. Also on display are large pieces of terracotta and the mosaic paving stones of Villeroy and Boch.

The famous Aachen ice manufacturers have exhibited a very pure colossal ice in the third trophy. Two elegant porcelain vases, richly gilded, adorn the entrance. Porcelain chandeliers, featuring grapes and leaves to beautiful effect, decorate the ceiling of this lodge.

In the fourth Prussian trophy room are displayed the products of the Royal Porcelain Factory in Berlin. This establishment owes its reputation to the perfection of its porcelain paintings. It will be a pleasure to see the large and beautiful cup in the middle with a painting of Love and the Undine, after a poem by Goethe. Other groups and figures of great beauty are to be found in the lodge, but the most important pieces of this exhibition are in front of the lodge. These are five large vases, decorated with paintings, after M. Kaul-Bach and others.

From there, if we turn our eyes to the left, we find ourselves in front of four boxes elegantly decorated with red velvet, on which white arabesques in stoneboard stand out. These are the trophies of Prussia and of the states which have exhibited collectively with her. The first box contains embroideries from the mountains of Saxony, where, as in Switzerland, a large population is engaged in this industry. The beautiful workmanship and the excessive cheapness will be noticed. One will see embroidered waistcoats at 5 and 6 fr; the embroidered velvet waistcoat, 20 fr, etc. Mr. Hietel, from Leipsic, has composed crepe and hair embroideries on white silk fabrics. Among the paintings embroidered with needle hair, a very well executed work, one will notice the portrait of the King of Saxony, and another of Napoleon 111, at a price of 200 fr.; a well drawn horse, etc. The back of this box seems to be intended for a mirror from the Manheim factory, according to the inscription on it, but the piece is not there.

In front of this logo, a two-metre-high bronze statue stands before us. This statue represents King Frederick William III, father of the present monarch, in Roman costume. It is cut after the model of Mr. Kiss and exhibited by the Royal School of Arts and Crafts in Berlin: the most remarkable thing about it is the chiselling and inlaying of gold and silver with which it is decorated. The gold and silver used for this purpose are worth 6,750 fr. The price of the work carried out, which lasted three years, makes a total of 25,330 fr, not counting the casting and the model. It is intended to adorn the School from which it came.

In front of this statue, a small exhibition attracts by the fame of the name and the perfume that it spreads.

The reader will have guessed that it is the eau de Cologne exhibited by the illustrious and eternal Jean-Marie Farina. On red velvet lie the productions of the sculptors and ornamentalists of the unfinished Cologne Cathedral. Cornices, spires and other ornaments are shown, executed with a perfect finish in sandstone. On the other side, stereoscopes set up on a table will amuse the visitor by the perfect clarity of their images, which stand out marvellously and rise up before the eye after a few seconds.

In front of these objects and opposite the four trophies, a Flora surrounded by deer in extra-natural size, and other garden ornaments, in zinc covered with a layer of copper by electroplating, have been placed. These objects are cast without retouching and are distinguished by their elegant forms and cheapness. The two gilded deer, which come from the workshops of Messrs Devaranne and Winkelmann, in Berlin, are made after the model of the famous sculptor Rauch, and cost 1900 fr.

Let us return to the second trophy, which contains the fine stoneware and pale pottery decorated with colours, gold and platinum. Also on display are large pieces of terracotta and the mosaic paving stones of Villeroy and Boch.

The famous Aachen ice manufacturers have exhibited a very pure colossal ice in the third trophy. Two elegant porcelain vases, richly gilded, adorn the entrance. Porcelain chandeliers, featuring grapes and leaves to beautiful effect, decorate the ceiling of this lodge.

In the fourth Prussian trophy room are displayed the products of the Royal Porcelain Factory in Berlin. This establishment owes its reputation to the perfection of its porcelain paintings. It will be a pleasure to see the large and beautiful cup in the middle with a painting of Love and the Undine, after a poem by Goethe. Other groups and figures of great beauty are to be found in the lodge, but the most important pieces of this exhibition are in front of the lodge. These are five large vases, decorated with paintings, after M. Kaul-Bach and others.

©Promenades dans l'exposition de 1855