The Köhler Family and Their Legacy

Born in 1891, Gertrud Köhler was the youngest of three children and the only daughter of Hermann and Adelheid Köhler of Altenburg, Thuringia. Her father, Hermann Köhler, founded the eponymous sewing machine factory in 1892, establishing a successful business that remained under his direction until his death in 1914.

A Wedding Gift with a Lasting Legacy

In May 1911, Gertrud married Otwig von Ehrenberg. On the occasion of their marriage, her parents gifted her the collection of porcelain, silver and glass that forms the present group. The pieces were carefully preserved throughout her life and remain in pristine condition, in part because Gertrud and her husband had few opportunities to enjoy them.

A Life Shaped by History

The course of Gertrud’s life was profoundly altered by the events of the early twentieth century. Otwig was killed in action during the First World War in 1917, having been preceded in death by their four-year-old daughter, Heidi. Gertrud remained in Altenburg with her surviving daughter, Sabine.

Preserving the Collection Through Times of Change

Following the Second World War, Altenburg became part of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), and the Köhler factory was expropriated and transferred to state ownership. Anticipating the risk of further confiscation, Gertrud kept her collection securely locked away, preserving the objects through a period of considerable political and social upheaval.

A Collection Passed Down Through Generations

Gertrud von Ehrenberg died in 1975. Her daughter Sabine subsequently emigrated to West Germany, taking her mother’s dowry and personal effects with her. Sabine never married, and the collection has since passed by descent to the present owner.

Preserved across generations, the collection not only reflects the elegance and craftsmanship of early twentieth-century domestic objects but also carries with it the story of a family whose fortunes were shaped by industry, marriage, war and the dramatic political changes of twentieth-century Germany.

Collection Highlights

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Auction Details

Tuesday 22 September, 10am BST
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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Viewing at Dreweatts London (highlights): 16-17 Pall Mall, SW1Y 5LU
Monday 14 September: 10am-4pm
Tuesday 15 September: 10am-4pm
Wednesday 16 September: 10am-7pm

Viewing at Dreweatts Newbury (full sale): Donnington Priory, RG14 2JE
Saturday 19 September: 10am-3pm
Sunday 20 September: 10am-3pm
Monday 21 September: 10am-4pm

Further information
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