Imperial German Navy Kiel Volldampf Voraus Hand-Painted Goblet
type: Product
description: This substantial Imperial German naval souvenir goblet dates most plausibly from the closing years of the Wilhelmine period, circa 1903–1918. Standing approximately 8.5 inches tall, it combines a finely painted steam warship, the Imperial German naval ensign, the port name “Kiel,” and the patriotic nautical exhortation “Volldampf voraus!” The German inscription translates directly as “Full steam ahead!” The composition reflects the intense naval enthusiasm that accompanied Germany’s rapid expansion as a maritime power under Kaiser Wilhelm II. The goblet is formed from clear glass with a tall, slightly tapering bowl, an elongated plain stem, and a broad circular foot. Its proportions are more formal than those of an ordinary drinking tumbler and give the piece the appearance of a commemorative wine or toasting glass. The upper rim was originally finished with a narrow gilded band, portions of which remain visible beneath considerable age-related rubbing and oxidation. The principal decoration is executed in detailed polychrome enamel painting. A two-funnel Imperial German steam warship is shown moving through a dark, choppy sea with dense black smoke issuing from both funnels. The vessel is rendered in profile with a long dark hull, raised central superstructure, deck railings, masts, and additional fittings suggested in fine black linework. The artist employed restrained shades of gray, black, white, and blue, producing an unusually atmospheric maritime scene rather than a brightly colored decorative image. The ship is likely intended as a representative Imperial German cruiser or fleet vessel rather than a portrait of a specifically identifiable warship. No ship name, hull designation, unit inscription, or sufficiently distinctive structural arrangement is present to justify assigning it to a particular vessel. The word “Kiel,” engraved beneath the painted scene near the junction of the bowl and stem, identifies the important German naval port rather than the name …
brand: Derrittmeister Militaria Group
sku: 18-125
additional property: Title
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Default Title
offers: AggregateOffer
  low price: 159.00
  high price: 159.00
  price currency: USD
  offer count: 1
  offers: Offer
    price: 159.00
    price currency: USD
    availability: https://schema.org/InStock
    item condition: https://schema.org/NewCondition
    sku: 18-125

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