Biscuit porcelain, partially glazed. Profiled, square base with vermicelli gold decoration. On a rectangular plinth, a raised, profiled round foot, ovoid body with cylindrical neck and curved, profiled rim. Two opposing, S-shaped curved handles with acanthus leaf motifs. Night blue, partially gold-speckled matte background. On the front, a gold-radiated medallion frame crowned by the Prussian royal crown, with the bust portrait of Wilhelm I of Prussia as the Prussian king in uniform, adorned with a series of high Prussian orders and honors, including the "Pour-le-Mérite" order and the ribbon and star of the Black Eagle Order. Polychrome painting. Rich gilding with gold radiations. Foot and neck with surrounding oak leaf wreath. Model 1606 "Flower vase with decorated handle"; old paper label on the vase bottom, handwritten in French, stating "Given by Emperor Wilhelm I to (Countess) Claire d'Yve on the occasion of the marriage of (Count and Countess) of Flanders 1867" (attached after the imperial coronation). Base with monogram in old German script. Scepter and penny mark, as well as painting mark. Vase height 48 cm. Base height 8.5 cm. 22.5 cm x 22.5 cm. This is a court gift from the later Kaiser Wilhelm I of Prussia on the occasion of the wedding of Prince Philipp of Belgium (1837-1905), the so-called Count of Flanders and third-born son of Leopold I, King of Belgium, to Maria Louise Alexandra Karoline of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1845-1912) in the Roman Catholic St. Hedwig's Cathedral in Berlin. This marriage was arranged by Queen Victoria of England. Maria Louise, daughter of Princess Josephine of Baden and Prince Karl Anton of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, thereby became Countess of Flanders. According to the inscription, this vase was presented to Countess Claire d'Yve, who was the lady-in-waiting to Marie Louise of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. Such magnificent vases with the portrait of the king were given on behalf of Wilhelm I of Prussia for important occasions or as tokens of appreciation as personal gifts. At the time of the gift of this magnificent vase in 1867, Wilhelm I was still King of Prussia until he was crowned German Emperor in 1871. See Ponert: Catalogue Berlin Museum, Applied Arts I/Ceramics, fig. no. 126 (form), 130 (magnificent vase with portrait of Wilhelm I as emperor); Collection Stadtmuseum Berlin, K G K 68/19. Provenance: From the possession of the later Kaiser Wilhelm I of Prussia for the wedding of the Count and Countess of Flanders to Countess Claire d'Yve; from the descendants of the family. A splendid royal matte midnight-blue ground porcelain vase with portrait of Wilhelm I as a courtly gift on the occasion of the marriage of Count Philippe of Flanders with Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen in 1867 in Berlin. Scepter, penny, and painting mark. KPM-Berlin. Circa 1867.
