Blue-and-white tiles with outline depictions adorn the cover photo of Schlösser-Magazin this time. Tiles and palaces? This is only a surprising combination at first glance, and can be beautifully understood at Favorite Palace (in Rastatt-Förch). In the "Sala terrena" (Garden Hall) visitors are fascinated by the blue-and-white tile decoration.
In addition to Asian and European china, faiences are also on exhibit if this must-see china palace. And these faiences are the main topic in this issue. The dishes presented in all shapes and styles in the exhibition kitchen are primarily from the manufactories in Hanau und Ansbach. Wonderful Strasbourg lidded tureens with three-dimensional designs, for example in the shape of poultry or vegetables, are presented behind glass.
Fortunately, the former summer palace of Margravine Sibylla Augusta of Baden-Baden has been preserved virtually unchanged. But other magnificent former royal buildings experienced quite another fate. In the 19th century, after their courtly residents had moved out, they were used for new purposes. In the more favorable cases, as museums, and otherwise as administrative buildings, barracks, schools or hospitals. The related changes were in same cases quite serous. One example of changing uses is Mannheim palace, where a conference devoted to the topic "Profanation of Palaces" will be held in the fall. Our illustration shows Gottesaue Palace in Karlsruhe, built as a pleasure and hunting palace. It burned down, was rebuilt and served in the time that followed as an administrative building, a model farm, a barracks etc. Today it is home to the College of Music (Hochschule für Musik).
Representation and recreation: Four courtly beds from the first half of the 18th century have been preserved at Weikersheim Palace, mostly in their original condition. The price paid for the furniture has even been documented. According to this, the bed of the Countess cost 206 guilders. Of this, 120 guilders were for the "draperies of green brocade, of gold and colored flowers and trimmed with golden lace...“. According to the documents, just 25 guilders were paid for the ornately worked wooden bed frame.
The careers of two personages are traced in the new issue. One portrait is devoted to Cosimo Alessandro Collini (1727 – 1806), the scientist, writer and friend of Voltaire. As director of the natural history collection at Mannheim Palace, he served Elector Carl Theodor of the Palatinate. – But the personal development of Baron Alexander of Buwinghausen-Wallmerrode (1728 – 1796) is no less diverse. For a total of 30 years he was one of the most loyal servants of Duke Carl Eugen of Württemberg. Buwinghausen's diary on the Duke's travels around the country and social events are among the most important sources on courtly life today. Visitors to Solitude Palace can now visualize the Baron, as the court painter Johann Jakob Morff painted his portrait around 1792. The State Palaces and Gardens were able to purchase the painting from the art trade.
As always, our regular columns present interesting exhibits. This time the "Vitrine" (Showcase) contains Chinese figurines from the possessions of the Prince Bishop's of Konstanz, which can be viewed in real life at Meersburg Palace. "LeseStoff" (Reading Material) offers a close look at a richly embroidered dress from the Biedermeier period in the Gothic style from the Fashion Museum (Modemuseum) at Ludwigsburg Palace. The new series "Adel verpflichtet" (Noblesse Oblige) explains titles, rankings and their history and meaning. The first article covers the Imperial Knights. This time the trip tip takes readers from Schöntal Monastery to Berlichingen and Jagsthausen.
In addition to other interesting topics, the issue also contains a calendar of events, a detailed, constantly updated version of which can be viewed at this website.
The issue is available here in German only.