Antique Villa Rosa – Görbersdorf Turned Wood Souvenir Box
Dr. Brehmer’s Sanatorium – Silesia – c.1870
Unusual antique hand turned-wood souvenir box featuring a detailed period view of“Villa Rosa. Goerbersdorf.”
Villa Rosa was built in1862and was associated with Dr. Hermann Brehmer’s pioneering sanatorium at Görbersdorf in Silesia. Görbersdorf became internationally known during the 19th century as a health resort and center for the treatment of tuberculosis. The village is todaySokołowsko, Poland.
The lid features a finely detailed monochrome architectural view of Villa Rosa in its landscaped surroundings. The image appears to have been printed or transferred onto the wood and is surrounded by a fine rectangular border.
The box itself is beautifully lathe-turned from lightweight, fine-grained wood. The underside and interiors show prominent concentric growth rings/end-grain character as well as original turning marks and center points. The grain suggests that the turning blank was taken from a relatively small-diameter section of wood.
Measurements & Details
- Diameter: approximately53.30 mm / 2.10\"
- Height: approximately25 mm / 0.98\"
- Weight:13.15 grams
- Two-piece turned-wood construction
- Fitted friction lid
- Lid fits securely — neither loose nor excessively tight
- Pictorial decoration captioned“Villa Rosa. Goerbersdorf.”
Because of its diminutive size and secure fitted lid, the piece may originally have served as apill box, small personal box, or keepsake container. Similar small turned-wood souvenir boxes were also produced for a variety of personal uses, so its exact original function is unknown.
Based on its construction, decoration and historical context, it appears consistent with alate 19th- to early 20th-century souvenir. Circa 1900 is used here as an approximate date rather than an exact year of manufacture.
Condition:Antique condition with age-related wear. There is localized wear/loss to portions of the pictorial decoration, along with minor surface wear and interior darkening/discoloration consistent with age and possible use. The box has not been aggressively cleaned.
Please examine all photographs carefully as they are an important part of the description.
A fascinating little survivor from the period when Görbersdorf was one of Europe’s best-known health resorts, with an unusual connection to the history of Brehmer’s early tuberculosis sanatorium.
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