Chinese House

Did Frederick the Great truly find solace in his Chinoiserie dream? Let’s explore the captivating story of the Chinese House here in Potsdam’s Sanssouci Park. This ornate pavilion, nestled within Frederick the Great’s beloved flower and vegetable garden, stands as a testament to 18th-century European fascination with the Orient. The Chinese House’s story begins in 1755, when Frederick commissioned Johann Gottfried Büring to design the pavilion. Büring blended Rococo and Chinese architectural elements, a style known as Chinoiserie. The construction, however, spanned nine long years, largely due to the Seven Years’ War’s strain on Prussia’s resources. Only in 1763, after the war’s end, were the interior chambers finally furnished. The Chinese House wasn’t merely a decorative element; it was a venue for small social gatherings. To accommodate these events, Frederick commissioned a Chinese Kitchen nearby. Interestingly, the gilded sandstone figures adorning the Chinese House, depicting people eating, drinking, and making music, were modeled after locals. This explains their distinctly European features. The Chinese House’s trefoil shape consists of a central building with three cabinet rooms, interspersed with open spaces. Gilded sandstone columns, crafted by Johann Melchior Kambly, support the copper roof in these spaces. Inside, monkeys playing musical instruments adorn the stucco marble walls of the circular central chamber. Thomas Huber’s ceiling paintings, inspired by Blaise Nicholas Le Sueur’s designs, depict Oriental men, parrots, monkeys, and Buddhas. Adding to the opulence, a gold-leaf-coated chandelier hangs from the cupola, illuminating Huber’s art. The walls between the rooms boast vibrant silken wall coverings, known as “Pekings,” showcasing floral patterns. These coverings, produced in Prussian silk factories, exemplify Frederick’s preference for high-quality local materials. The Chinese House reflects not only a fashionable trend but also a unique blend of cultures and a king’s desire for a space that blended artistry, nature, and social delight. What do you think of this fusion of East and West, right here in the heart of Potsdam?