The Feste Pitten Goblet A rare enamelled topographical goblet from the Wildenstein Series attributed to Gottlob Samuel Mohn, Vienna, circa 1815

signed, the deep bell-shaped bowl gilt and painted in transparent colours with a view of a castle in a mountainous landscape within a rectangular stained-amber panel, inscribed on the reverse in gothic lettering VOESTEN PITTEN, the gilt-edged rim decorated with a gothic border, set on a collar over a spreading conical foot painted in matt blue and gilding

Sold Dorotheum, Vienna, 30th October 1935, lot 437
Josef Mayer Collection, sold Wiener Kunstauktionen, Vienna, 27th September 1994, lot 227

Corning Museum of Glass, New York, no.32

two repaired chips to rim (0.5cm x 1cm and 0.7cm x 1cm) and some typical rubbing to gilding, otherwise in good condition
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

One of the earliest of thirteen known goblets of identical form, the present lot was decorated by Gottlob Samuel Mohn for a romantic society, the so-called Bund der Wildensteiner Ritterschaft zur blauen Erde, founded by the geologist Anton David Steiger, Edler am Stein, from Wiener Neustadt. His portrait may be seen on a glass by Haberl illustrated by Sabine Baumgärtner, Porträtgläser, no.134. The name Wildensteiner was taken from the lords of the Seebenstein Castle, whose documentation dates back to 1159.

Anton Steiger rented and restored the old castle of Seebenstein in 1790-92. Members of the Austrian imperial family and the European nobility, such as the Archdukes Johann and Anton, Charles Augustus, Grand Duke of Saxe Weimar, Prince William of Prussia and Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg belonged to the Wildensteiner Society. Even Emperor Francis I attended meetings in the Seebenstein Castle. This union had to be dissolved in 1824 on the orders of Baron Reichmann representing the Austrian government.

The whereabouts of some of the surviving goblets painted by Mohn for the Widensteiner Ritterschaft is known.  The literature documents one for Seebenstein (in the Niederösterreichisches Landesmuseum, Vienna), Krumbach (in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nürnberg). That for Steyersberg is illustrated by B.Klesse, Glassamlung Helfried Krug, vol.1, pp.328-329, no.382, signed and dated 1816. It was sold in these Rooms, 15th November 1982, lot 515 and 9th November 1993, lot 89. That painted with a view of Kranichberg was sold in these Rooms, 19th December 2002, lot 22.

See lot 98 in the present catalogue for that depicting Schloss Feistritz. The whereabouts of those depicting Kirschlag, Thernberg, Schloss Wildenstein, Bartenstein, Thomasberg, Emaberg, Festung Klamm and Pass Schottwien is unclear.

See also Walter Spiegl, Glas des Historismus, for further details concerning the other recorded goblets, all of which are painted with views of castles in Lower Austria after Köpp von Felsenthal. They are particularly interesting as early examples of the Gothic Revival.