Highlights

Description

What a magnificent gift box! Members of the German Reichstag honoured their former president Dr Eduard von Simson with this gift in 1879. The richly decorated casket can be opened at the front. It originally contained a plain sheet of parchment with written congratulations to the jubilarian. Later, the recipient used the casket as a repository for writing utensils, documents and valuable personal items. Four turtles support the case, which is executed in the neo-Renaissance style. Perched on the top of the lid is Lady Justice. This casket is one of the major works of Fritz von Miller, the most important Munich goldsmith during the Historism and Art Nouveau periods.