“Bares for Rares”
“Wasn’t that the one with the tall guys?”: Soldier King brings back memories for Horst Lichter
Horst Lichter has already heard a lot about the Soldier King.
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A piece of Prussian history is in “Bares for Rares”: a statuette of Friedrich Wilhelm I. Host Horst Lichter remembers vaguely.
“Honestly, I don’t think this bronze is particularly beautiful,” says Rene Stroemer at the beginning of his appearance on “Bares for Rares”. The 52-year-old wholesaler from Cologne hopes to find a buyer for the piece that his brother got when they sold an apartment.
It immediately caused a stir in the expert room: “Who do we have standing there proudly?” asks Horst Lichter when he sees the statuette. “A majesty,” explains Colmar Schulte-Goltz. It was Friedrich Wilhelm I, from 1713 King of Prussia and also Elector of Brandenburg. “My God, but he had work to do,” the moderator exclaims in astonishment.
“Bares for Rares”: The king bought tall men
The expert goes on to explain that he is the famous Soldier King. A bell rings at the lights: “But it wasn’t that with the tall guys?” he asks. Exactly, that was Friedrich Wilhelm I. As Schulte-Goltz recounts, the king bought tall men for his guard from all over Europe, some of which were even exchanged for porcelain vases.
The present figure goes back to the sculptor Karl Hilgers (1844 to 1925). The original once stood in Berlin in the Hall of Fame of the German Imperial House. The design dates from 1882, this is a scaled-down replica that was probably made around 1900. Stroemer would be satisfied with 200 euros. But Schulte-Goltz thinks that’s not enough: he estimates the piece at 800 to 1000 euros.
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These are the dealers at “Bares for Rares” – bet you don’t know them all?
In the trader’s room, the figure of the Soldier King also attracts interest. Steve Mandel starts with 150 euros, Daniel Meyer and Friedrich Häusser also take part in the auction. But at 470 euros, Meyer gets out and wishes: “Friedrich should go to Friedrich.” Häusser offers 500 euros – and the deal is made. “Perfect,” says Rene Stroemer happily.
source: “Bares for Rares” in the ZDF media library
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