and Empress Elisabeth - 12 plates with Bavarian views from imperial personal property, porcelain, cobalt blue, gilt rim, centre with different Bavarian views, lip with emperor’s monogram "FJI" with Austrian imperial crown, dia 24.5 cm, impressed factory mark, the underside with place name and "F. X. Thallmaier München", c. 1880/90, (Lu)

The 12 porcelain plates on display were a personal gift from Emperor Francis Joseph I to his wife Empress Elisabeth and feature places and views the empress especially loved. They include Schleissheim, Nuremberg Castle, Hintersee near Berchtesgaden, Lindau Harbour, Lake Chiemsee/ Isle of Frauenchiemsee, the Royal Palace of Herrenchiemsee, Traunstein, Obersee, Garatshausen, Alpsee in Hohenschwangau, Lindau on Lake Constance and Berchtesgaden with the Watzmann Mountain. The emperor commissioned the famous porcelain painting studio F. X. Thallmaier in Munich with the production of this magnificent set of plates. This is a unique series and, due to its Bavarian reference, a very personal gift from the emperor to his wife. The series was preserved in the Imperial Villa at Ischl and passed on by inheritance to the Empress’s favourite daughter, Marie Valerie, and her heirs.

Provenance:
Empress Elisabeth and Emperor Emperor Francis Joseph I, Archduchess Marie Valerie and heirs