Immediately following the Seven Years War; Frederick the Great commissioned the building of the New Palace. His “Fanfaronade” or boast, was meant to symbolise the renewed strength of Prussia.

The story of the New Palace's missing tiles

Almost 100 years ago, six tiles from Princess Victoria's bathroom in the New Palace went missing. Only recently, the tiles were recovered - but there was a twist. Story by Ortrun Egelkraut.

During the time of Frederick the Great (1712– 1786), the palaces at Potsdam did not have any bathrooms as washing your body was not fashionable at the time. It wasn’t until 100 years later that Crown Princess Victoria (1840– 1901) wrinkled her nose, and installed steam heating, electric light and put bathtubs into the New Palace. You can still find the baths today in her summer residence hidden behind cupboard doors.

Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa, Princess of Great Britain and Ireland VA, from 1888 Empress Friedrich was the first child of Albert von Sachsen- Coburg and Gotha and Queen Victoria of Great Britain a British princess from the house of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. As a wife of Friedrich III. she was Queen of Prussia and German Empress. – © W. Pfauder / SPSG, New Palace, Crown Princess Victoria 1882, Potsdam

For many years, visitors would notice six ceramic tiles missing in the otherwise perfectly preserved bathroom. ‘I never knew the Palace any differently’ said Uta Scholz, who is responsible for restoring and preserving all the art made from porcelain, ceramics and glass.

Not so long ago, Ms Scholz received a letter with photos of blue-white tiles in a Dutch design and a message that the tiles originated from the Puderzimmer ("the powder room“) of the New Palace. Ms Scholz immediately recognised the tiles. After an exchange of letters and phone calls, the owners, the Becker family from Mechernich, proudly returned the tiles to ‘the rightful place where they belong’ back in the palace. However there was a twist. The tiles were no longer loose but neatly installed in a tea trolley.

How the tiles went missing in 1936-37 remains a mystery. The tiles had travelled from Thuringia, Hesse to Nordrhine-Westphalia. The tea trolley was given to the Becker family by an older gentleman, who recalled his mother telling him when he was five that she had found them in a pile of rubble in ‘Frederick’s the Great large bathroom’.

As time passed, the grand origins of the tiles was forgotten and the tiles were used as a coaster for the tea trolley. ‘It was very difficult to extract the tiles from the trolley without damaging them’ said Ms Scholz.

Eventually, all the hard work paid off. The damaged tiles were cleaned, the old glue marks dissolved and new glue was applied. Missing corners were replaced and colouring performed.

Now restored to its former beauty, the tiles perfectly complete the bath cabinet next to the small bedroom on the upper floor of the New Palace. Ms Scholz is very pleased, ‘It is such a joy to recover pieces that are believed to be missing – and in this case we had a very lucky set of circumstances.’

You can see the restored tiles for yourself at the New Palace.