Model of King Ludwig II of Bavaria's Neo-Rococo Sleigh

Carved in the workshop of Philipp Perron

1872–80

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 556

This delicately carved miniaturized yet monumental object is a stylized version of King Ludwig II of Bavaria’s (1845–1886) famous gilt-wood sleigh designed by Franz Seitz. The full-size sleigh had a strong battery-powered light in the crown on top and was widely considered the first electrically illuminated vehicle in Bavaria. Ludwig, the “Dream” or “Mad” king, who slept during the day and was active at night, astonished the local population with his “miraculous glooming” vehicle. This fantastic model, drawn by swans rather than horses, alludes to the first act of Richard Wagner’s opera Lohengrin. The crowns around the swans’ necks and the imposing size suggest that it may have been a display piece at the castle of Neuschwanstein or Linderhof Palace, two of the king’s architectural fairytale creations that incorporate crowned swans as royal emblems.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Model of King Ludwig II of Bavaria's Neo-Rococo Sleigh
Designer: Franz Seitz (German, 1817–1883)
Maker: Carved in the workshop of Philipp Perron (1840–1907)
Date: 1872–80
Culture: German, Munich
Medium: Historic ivory, carved, punched, and engraved; on oval silk velvet-covered wooden stand with historic ivory ball feet
Dimensions: as mounted on board, confirmed: 17 × 42 1/8 × 12 5/8 in. (43.2 × 107 × 32.1 cm)
sleigh only, confirmed: 15 1/2 × 34 5/8 × 13 1/2 in. (39.4 × 87.9 × 34.3 cm)
Classification: Natural Substances-Ivory
Credit Line: Gift of the Sapir Family, in memory of Tamir Sapir, 2024
Object Number: 2024.141.2
Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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