Description
KRONPRINZ WILHELM’S DELUXE SILVER PRESENTATION FRAME & AUTOGRAPHED PHOTOGRAPH.
Members of Imperial Germany royalty often presented special gifts to favored followers. These gifts included stickpins, cigarette cases, brooches, etc. One of the most highly prized gifts was the royal’s autographed photograph in a custom-made, officially-presented photo frame. The superior quality and special attention given to these frames was nothing short of amazing. Today we are offering a first for Der Rittmeister Militaria: a top-of-the-line silver presentation photograph frame from Kronprinz Wilhelm (1882-1951), the man destined to be Germany’s fourth Kaiser who instead went to his grave as the throne’s Pretender.
As Kaiser Wilhelm II and Kaiserin Augusta Viktoria’s eldest child, Kronprinz Wilhelm had many other responsibilities besides being the royal heir. He groomed for a military career. At WW I’s outbreak he commanded the V. Armee. In 1915, he assumed command of Armeegruppe Kronprinz. Wilhelm participated in many of WW I’s major battles, including Verdun where his three-army Armeegruppe had some success.
The Kronprinz was best known for wearing 1. Leib-Husaren-Regiment Nr 1’s uniform. His father, the Kaiser, was its Regimental Chef and Generalfeldmarschall von Mackensen frequently and proudly wore the regiment’s attila and busby.
The magnificent frame measures 9 ½” x 11.” The frame’s top displays the Kronprinz’s high-relief, crowned royal cypher, which measures 1″ x 1 ¼.” At its bottom, the frame is engraved with a sentiment and dedication to its fortunate recipient, with Wilhelm’s engraved signature as a part of it. The frame’s bottom edge features the manufacturer’s hallmark, Schleissner, as well as a silver hallmark (.800). The manufacturer’s hallmark is preceded by the half moon and crown, which indicates the frame meets the silver fitness standards mandated in 1885 by Kaiser Wilhelm I. The frame holds an autographed photograph of the Kronprinz seated on his horse. He is gently patting his horse’s neck as they stand in profile. His bold black ink signature is clearly visible at the photograph’s bottom. The photograph measures a generous 6 ¼” x 8.” The crown prince wears the 1. Leib-Husaren-Regiment Nr 1’s tunic and busby. The frame’s surface boasts a magnificent silver patina that has clearly NOT been cleaned in decades.
The frame’s reverse is lined in a magnificent purple velvet. An easel lined in the same purple velvet allows the frame to be set upon a flat surface. Three silver pegs hold the frame’s two pieces in place. This is an ultra-rare example of a marvelous royal gift. It is a historic, very important frame and photograph from Germany’s Kronprinz.
