Johann Peter Spiess

(Mannheim 1824-ca.1891 Baden-Baden)

Victor’s prize for winning the “Altes Badener Jagdrennen” Iffezheim
Ivory
Signed and dated: J. Spiess. fecit Hofgraveur Mannheim 1863
Height: 50 cm

The cup crowns a figure of a rearing horse with a rider on its back and features scenes from the “Old Baden Steeplechase” that are carved in semi-relief from the ivory. The decorative vine leaves are a reference to the cup’s origins in Baden.
It was awarded as a honorary prize to the winner of the steeplechase at the Iffezheim racecourse near Baden-Baden. The “Old Baden Steeplechase” was first held in 1861. It led across open land and the Kapellenberg. Spectators could take their places along the course, as is also shown in relief.

According to the family extract in the Mannheim municipal archives, Johann Peter Spiess was born on 30 October 1824 in Mannheim; he was Protestant and acquired citizenship of Mannheim on 14 May 1853. On 26 June 1854, Spiess married Sophie Elise, née Heckel. Spiess lived at various addresses in the city centre of Mannheim (P 6,4, D 2,1, C 1,2). In 1863, he moved to Baden-Baden. In the directory of 1863, his surname is spelt “Spies”. A court engraver by the name of Johann Spiess is first found in the Baden-Baden directories in the year 1868. In the previous edition dated 1865, an engraver by the name of L. Spiess is listed; this may be a spelling mistake, so the entry may be referring to Johann Spiess. When exactly he moved to Baden-Baden is not known because a register of residents was not established in Baden-Baden until 1910. From 1879 onwards, Johann Spiess had a shop in the renowned “Colonnades” in front of the Kurhaus. A file documenting the fact is also in existence (A26/15-116). Spiess is mentioned for the last time in the directory of 1891. In the issue that followed, only his company is listed, which was obviously continued by his son Philipp. The firm of “J. Spieß” remained listed until 1924. It is not possible to determine the date on which Johann Spiess died from the documents available in the municipal archive.

References

  • Martin Furtwängler, Die Galopprennen von Baden-Baden. Facetten einer internationalen Sportveranstaltung, in Sonderdruck aus: Nicht nur Sieg und Niederlage, Sport im deutschen Südwesten im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert, Oberrheinische Studien, vol. 28, Ostfildern 2011, p. 45, Ill. 10, p. 52.

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