Kaiser Wilhelm and the chaise longue of doom

[winter]

Wilhelm von Hohenzollern may very well be stalking me. A week after a couple of photos sent plotbunnies running through my brain, Mother was in Pszczyna, in the castle of the dukes von Pless. The palace was Wilhelm's headquarters during most of World War I, and five rooms have been reconstructed according to photographs and using furniture that, like the rest of the fantastic castle, survived two world wars and half a century of communism.

And it really should be used as historical arguments. Especially the chaise.

Kaiser Wilhelm's private study Aren't the draperies just fabulous?

The Pimp Chaise The angels are a bit of overkill.

The public study A little more restrained, this was the room semi-official visitors saw.

Public study, again The mirror is stunning, but someone should mention that one does not match draperies to upholstery.

Bedroom, fabulous Yes, it was 1915 - not the time for a four-poster gilded Bed of Doom. Do you think he'd let it stop him?

Comments

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

not the time for a four-poster gilded Bed of Doom. Do you think he'd let it stop him?

Well, one needs something with good, sturdy posts for when one... entertains...

[winter]

Especially in a frustrating period like WWI ;)

And one more I forgot about, especially for you: http://pics.livejournal.com/bwinter/pic/000bdaa8/g56

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

*snickers* So that's what happens to dear Wilhelm when he tries for one of Sisi's dresses and neglects the fact she spends a lot of every day hyped on coke and in the gym? ;)

[winter]

Quite possibly ;) Boy had issues.

[ariss-tenoh.livejournal.com]

Beautiful furniture. I doubt those chairs are comfortable though^^

[winter]

I sat on a similar one in a much shabbier castle once - you'd be surprised :)

[artaxastra.livejournal.com]

Yes, the angels are way too much!

But the antlers on the wall make it all macho.

I really like the bed. Yeah. I need one like that! Sure! Especially with the fur rug....

[winter]

Oh, the antlers were only for show in the public study/war room ;)

Btw, have you ever been in the Viennese war history museum? Its collection of Napoleonic and Thirty Years War stuff (especially documents) is very impressive.

[artaxastra.livejournal.com]

No, I have sadly never been to Vienna. :(

[alice_montrose]

The Bed of Doom is very... well, I'm sure it was meant to be impressive and all, but the word that comes to mind is tacky.

Though the Pimp Chair is pretty, if one ignores the cupids... and tassels. (Maybe the tassels were strategically placed for bondage, though. Hmm... *ponders their location*)

[winter]

Mind you, this was the private quarters. I'm quite sure it reflects Wilhelm's personal tastes. The man liked to impress.

[alice_montrose]

Oh, I would have certainly been impressed... only I have the feeling it wouldn't have been the good sort of impression. *makes a face*

[winter]

If some records are to be trusted, his tastes ran more to impressionable young officers ;) And well-brought-up young women, of course. Very opportunistic, Wilhelm.

[arabwel.livejournal.com]

duuuuuuude, he would fit in califpria with taste like that! XD

[winter]

...thank you for the image of him surfing :P

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I think I need a chaise lounge like that one. I have no idea what I would do with it...but that is just...

fabulous.