Have you ever heard about the “Patronentasche” of Potsdam? It was a small building on the city canal, so narrow that people called it a “patron’s pocket” because of its small size. But in front of you stands something quite different. This is the Brockessches Haus, also sometimes known as the Brockesches Palais. It’s not a pocket, but a stunning palace-like building, erected in 1776.
This beautiful house was commissioned by Johann Christoph Brockes, a skilled glass cutter. Although Brockes could not export Bohemian glass due to strict royal regulations, the king, Frederick II, saw the importance of glass manufacturing for his own projects. He supported Brockes financially by granting him permission to build this beautiful palace, designed by the renowned architect Carl von Gontard. In fact, Frederick II even contributed to the palace’s façade, giving Brockes the necessary funds to create such a splendid front.
However, despite its elegant exterior and impressive size, the Brockessches Haus wasn’t just a grand residence. Workshops for Brockes’s glass-cutting business were located behind the main building. The palace housed both Brockes’s home and his business. The palace served as a symbol of the king’s patronage for local artisans, showcasing the royal support for craftsmanship and artistic expression.
Through the years, the Brockessches Haus saw changes in ownership and purpose. It served as the headquarters for the Prussian Oberrechnungskammer (Supreme Auditing Chamber) from 1817 until 1871. Later, it became the headquarters of the German Rechnungshof (Court of Auditors) from 1871 until 1945. Soon after the end of the World War, the German Federal Post Office occupied the building with its telecommunications department. Finally, after the reunification of Germany in 1990, the building stood vacant for two decades until it was renovated. Today, it stands as a residential building, offering a glimpse of Potsdam’s fascinating history and its connection to the art of glassmaking.