The initials “FWE” most certainly belong to Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm (from 1840 ruled as Friedrich Wilhelm IV, King of Prussia) and his wife Elisabeth Ludovika, who attended the foundry’s celebration in 1826. The background of the plaque shows important, partly identifiable products from previous years. Highlighted by a griffin from the Lion’s Gate of the Alexander fort on the Kartause in Coblenz, the products include an oven with a vase garniture, another vase, a cogwheel, cannons, and cannon balls.
- Titles Plaque Commemorating the Tenth Anniversary of the Creation of the Royal Iron Foundry Sayn as a Royal Foundry Office in 1816 (Descriptive)
- Artist Possibly modeled by, Heinrich Zumpft, German / Royal Prussian Iron Foundry, Sayn, Germany, operated 1815 - 1865
- Medium cast iron
- Dimensions 6 7/16 x 3 3/4 in., 225.3g (16.4 x 9.5 cm, 0.2 kg)
- Credit Line Gift of American Cast Iron Pipe Company, 1986.433
- Work Type plaque
- Classification Plaques
- On View
- Signature None
- Marks None
- Inscription Inscribed lower right: SAYNERH[ÜTT]E (partially concealed by a slanted, crowned crest with an eagle) and dated on the tablet "1826" with the initials FWE
- Provenance Gustav Lamprecht, Leipzig, Germany; sold about 1922 to Max Koehler, St. Louis, MO; about 1929 by descent to Max's brother Hugo Koehler, St. Louis, MO; sold about 1939 to American Cast Iron Pipe Company, Birmingham; long-term loan to the Birmingham Museum of Art 1951-1986; gift to the Birmingham Museum of Art in 1986