Model of HMS “Victory” from the Berlin Palace
- Object
- Ferdinand Richard Wilm (Entwurf; Konzeption); Wilkens & Söhne (Ausführung)
- Place of origin: Bremen (City)
- c. 1906
Kaiser Wilhelm II and his wife, Auguste Viktoria, received twelve silver models of ships for their silver wedding anniversary in 1906. Among them was the Victory, Nelson’s flagship in the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar. In leading the British to victory, the admiral was also establishing the preeminence of Great Britain at sea. Wilhelm II had the ships exhibited in his apartment at the palace. His enthusiasm for all things maritime was affiliated to German’s imperial politics. The empire was on a quest for global influence and expanded its fleet considerably. This posed a challenge for Great Britain in particular.