Bares für Rares Vergrabener Familienschatz: Keramikschale überlebte Weltkrieg unter der Erde
A Bowl Buried in History – A “Bares für Rares” Story (Approx. 500 words)
Two cheerful friends, Sabine from Hamburg and Karin from just south of the city, step into the Bares für Rares studio with a truly extraordinary object: a richly decorated Italian majolica bowl. They had met on holiday in South Tyrol the year before and bonded over shared interests—including antiques, it seems. The bowl belongs to Sabine, who inherited it from her aunt. But this is no ordinary family heirloom—it has a dramatic past.
Sabine recounts how her aunt once lived in Allenstein (today’s Olsztyn, Poland). When World War II was looming, the aunt had to flee. In a desperate act of preservation, she buried several valuable items, including this very bowl. In the 1970s, the family returned to the site—and miraculously, the bowl was still there, intact, and smuggled back across the border. “I don’t know what else was buried,” Sabine says, “but this one was found and survived everything.”
Expert Dr. Bianca Berding is visibly impressed. She identifies the bowl as a high-quality Italian majolica piece, most likely made by the renowned manufacturer Richard-Ginori between 1860 and 1896.
She explains the stylistic elements: deep cobalt blue glaze on the outside, serpentine handles reminiscent of 19th-century artist Bernard, and a grotesque motif inside that features fantastical human-animal hybrids and acanthus leaf ornamentation—typical of Renaissance and historicist revivals.
Although the bowl isn’t in perfect condition, Bianca notes only minor glaze chips, nothing structurally damaging. Considering its age and the ordeal it has survived, she describes its state as “remarkably good.” Her valuation? Between 300 and 400 euros—higher than the 250-euro asking price Sabine and Karin had hoped for.
In the dealer’s room, the ornate bowl instantly catches the eye of multiple buyers. Its rich decoration, serpentine embellishments, and dramatic backstory become the talk of the room. “Put pralines in it—or apples, to stick with the Paradise theme,” one dealer jokes, referring to the biblical symbolism of the snakes.
The dealers are amazed at how intact the bowl is despite being buried underground for decades. One points out that most similar pieces on the market have missing parts—especially the fragile snake heads.
The bidding quickly escalates. Starting at 200 euros, the offers climb to 600 euros, with dealers openly admitting they’re not just buying an object—they’re buying history. A final bid of 600 euros secures the bowl. Sabine and Karin are thrilled.
At the end, the buyer declares he won’t sell the bowl after all—it’s too beautiful. He’ll display it in his shop, filled with fresh apples, as a decorative centerpiece and conversation starter. A fitting new chapter for a bowl that has survived war, time, and even the soil of East Prussia.
