Original signed portrait of Emperor Wilhelm II. in the magnificent honorary frame of the Order of the Black Eagle

Emperor Wilhelm II. in historical uniform with his own signature

On April 22, 1897, Emperor Wilhelm II. arrived in Vienna on an official state visit. A few days later, on April 28, 1897, he personally signed this extraordinary portrait with “Wilhelm IR”. The large-format image shows the German Emperor in a uniform based on a historical model from the era of Frederick the Great, whose traditional connection Wilhelm II. particularly valued. As is well known, the Emperor wore the uniforms of numerous German regiments and princely houses during his reign, while deliberately abstaining from wearing French uniforms.

Rare photo-crayon print by J. C. Schaarwächter

The original full-length portrait comes from the renowned studio of J. C. Schaarwächter, Royal Court Photographer, Berlin W., Leipziger Straße 130. Between the photographer's details, the print “Photo Crayon” can be found.

In a photo-crayon print, a photographic original was artistically reworked with chalk, pastel, or pencil to achieve the character of a drawn or painted portrait. This elaborate technique enjoyed great popularity, especially in the late 19th century, and was frequently used for representative portraits of rulers.

Dimensions of the photograph: approx. 33 × 24 cm

Fire-gilded honorary frame with the Order of the Black Eagle

Of particular importance is the original frame in which the signed portrait was presented. It is an extremely representative honorary frame, which was presumably given as a personal gift to a distinguished person or to a member of the Austrian Imperial House.

The large frame is made of fire-gilded brass and is richly decorated. The border shows the embossed chain of the Order of the Black Eagle, the highest order of the Kingdom of Prussia. In the corners are Prussian eagles as well as the imperial monogram “W”. The top is crowned by the German Imperial Crown, which gives the frame a particularly monumental effect.

On the back, the signature can be found:

“C. H. Preetz Berlin W. 8”

The Berlin manufacturer supplied high-quality frames and presentation objects for state, military, and court purposes and is today considered one of the sought-after names in the field of Imperial memorabilia.

Rare honorary gift of the German Empire

Signed portraits of Emperor Wilhelm II. in their original representative honorary frames are today among the rarest and most coveted mementos of the German Empire. Particularly extraordinary here is the combination of his own signature, a documented period of creation during the Vienna state visit of 1897, a large-format photo-crayon execution, and the elaborately designed order frame with the Imperial Crown.

Condition and dimensions

Very good state of preservation with only slight signs of age.

The backing was replaced at a later date. Two mounting pins for securing the image in the frame are missing.

Dimensions of the frame: approx. 30.5 × 40.5 cm (excluding the height of the Imperial Crown)
Dimensions of the photograph: approx. 33 × 24 cm

Significant collector's item from the Imperial era

An extraordinary piece of German monarchical history and courtly representative culture. For collectors of Emperor Wilhelm II., Prussian memorabilia, autographs, court photography, the Order of the Black Eagle, Imperial antiques, and objects of the German Imperial House, this signed honorary portrait represents a rare opportunity.

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