Limited Masterworks Vase King Louis

King Louis II of Bavaria is held high by historians for his passionate approach to palace building and for having promoted Richard Wagner. The monarch, who met his death in Lake Starnberg in mysterious circumstances on 13 June 1886, still lives on in the hearts of the Bavarian people as the "fairy-tale king".

This magnificent vase draws on an ancient model from the 18th century. Its redesigned cover is adorned by twinkling gilt stars set against a sky hand-daubed in blue and is surmounted by the Bavarian crown in gold. The blue, one of Bavaria's state colours along with white, extends down from the cover to envelop the entire vessel.

The vase's four faces are decorated with a selection of vistas associated with the life of Louis II and the rich cultural heritage of the Free State of Bavaria. Along with the worldfamous Neuschwanstein Palace, we get to see his palace at Linderhof and that at Herrenchiemsee, which the monarch arranged to have built as a sign of the high esteem in which he held the sun-king Louis Quatorze of France. A fourth panel depicts Louis II punting through the Venus Grotto, an artificial stalactite cavern in the grounds of Linderhof Palace. Louis II's palaces are amongst the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, very much like Albrechtsburg Castle in Meissen or the Semper Opera House in Dresden - highlights for art and culture lovers the world over.