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Lot Essay
The Dream King's presentation watch
This watch is certainly one of the most flamboyant examples of a presentation timepiece made to special order for King Ludwig II of Bavaria, enamelled in Bavaria blue, set with rubies and diamonds, the front decorated with his monogram and crown. Known for his deep fondness for horses, it is not surprising that the back cover of this fabulous watch is decorated with a highly elaborate horse's head, accurate in every detail, from the flashing ruby-set eye to the distended nostrils and the blowing mane.
King Ludwig II of Bavaria, also known as "The Dream King" or "The Fairy Tale King" was born in Nymphenburg Castle outside Munich in the early hours of 25 August 1845. He was the eldest son of King Maximillian II and Queen Marie, and was named after his grandfather, King Ludwig I. He became King of Bavaria at the age of 18.
Disillusioned after a lost war with the Prussians, Ludwig lost all interest in politics and became increasingly eccentric. He loved the theatre and music, especially Richard Wagner's operas. He built three castles - Linderhof, Neuschwanstein and Herrenchiemsee - at stupendous expense. Ludwig's most famous castle though was Neuschwanstein which with its turrets and mock-medievalism, its interior styles ranging from Byzantine through Romanesque to Gothic, inspired the design of the "Sleeping Beauty Castle" at Disney. Woodcarving in Ludwig's bedroom took 14 carpenters 4 1/2 years to complete, Wagner's operas feature everywhere in the form of murals.
Three months before the planned wedding to Princess Sophie, his cousin and Empress Elisabeth's younger sister, in August 1867, Ludwig met Richard Hornig, a groom at the stables at Berg castle. A blond, blue-eyed Prussian, five years older than the King, he became an important figure in Ludwig's life. Richard Hornig was a superb horseman and their mutual love of horses was a strong bond. He controlled all horse transport, coaches and carriages, stabling, purchase, breeding and training of the Royal horses, which numbered around 500. The King and Hornig often visited the remote castles, chalets and mountain huts, mostly in a four-horse carriage and sometimes in an illuminated sleigh in the moonlight.
But Ludwig's extravagance and near or actual insanity worried the Bavarian government. Ludwig was certified insane in his bedroom at Neuschwanstein and, a few days later, on 13 June 1886 he and his physician were found drowned in the Lake Starnberg (Starnberger See). It has never been ascertained whether or not this was an accident.
This watch is certainly one of the most flamboyant examples of a presentation timepiece made to special order for King Ludwig II of Bavaria, enamelled in Bavaria blue, set with rubies and diamonds, the front decorated with his monogram and crown. Known for his deep fondness for horses, it is not surprising that the back cover of this fabulous watch is decorated with a highly elaborate horse's head, accurate in every detail, from the flashing ruby-set eye to the distended nostrils and the blowing mane.
King Ludwig II of Bavaria, also known as "The Dream King" or "The Fairy Tale King" was born in Nymphenburg Castle outside Munich in the early hours of 25 August 1845. He was the eldest son of King Maximillian II and Queen Marie, and was named after his grandfather, King Ludwig I. He became King of Bavaria at the age of 18.
Disillusioned after a lost war with the Prussians, Ludwig lost all interest in politics and became increasingly eccentric. He loved the theatre and music, especially Richard Wagner's operas. He built three castles - Linderhof, Neuschwanstein and Herrenchiemsee - at stupendous expense. Ludwig's most famous castle though was Neuschwanstein which with its turrets and mock-medievalism, its interior styles ranging from Byzantine through Romanesque to Gothic, inspired the design of the "Sleeping Beauty Castle" at Disney. Woodcarving in Ludwig's bedroom took 14 carpenters 4 1/2 years to complete, Wagner's operas feature everywhere in the form of murals.
Three months before the planned wedding to Princess Sophie, his cousin and Empress Elisabeth's younger sister, in August 1867, Ludwig met Richard Hornig, a groom at the stables at Berg castle. A blond, blue-eyed Prussian, five years older than the King, he became an important figure in Ludwig's life. Richard Hornig was a superb horseman and their mutual love of horses was a strong bond. He controlled all horse transport, coaches and carriages, stabling, purchase, breeding and training of the Royal horses, which numbered around 500. The King and Hornig often visited the remote castles, chalets and mountain huts, mostly in a four-horse carriage and sometimes in an illuminated sleigh in the moonlight.
But Ludwig's extravagance and near or actual insanity worried the Bavarian government. Ludwig was certified insane in his bedroom at Neuschwanstein and, a few days later, on 13 June 1886 he and his physician were found drowned in the Lake Starnberg (Starnberger See). It has never been ascertained whether or not this was an accident.