Philadelphia National Sängerfest Trophy Figure Detail

This trophy is for the 23rd National German Sängerfest (singer's festival) in Philadelphia. This event was hosted by the Nordöstlicher Sängerbund (Northeastern Singers' Federation) and took place between June 29th and July 4th,1912. The Sängerfest was a significant social event and even attended by President William Howard Taft. The trophy features an allegorical winged female figure holding a lyre and a laurel wreath on its head. The inscription underneath states “Wanderpreis Stollwerck - Im Deutschen Geist und Herzen sind wir Eins.” (Travelling Prize Stollwerck - We are one in German Spirit and Heart.) The latter is a line from the 19th century Friedrich Emil Ritterhaus lyrics of “Nicht festgebannt an Deutschlands mächt'ge Eichen" aka "Lied der Deutschnordamerikaner” or the Song of the German Americans.

The trophy is dedicated by the Gebrüder Stollwerck (Stollwerck Brothers) in Cologne, Germany. The Stollwerck company was started by German baker Franz Stollwerck in Cologne in 1839. He soon diversified into other confections and particularly chocolate, which was taking Europe by storm during the mid-1800s. The company even created the first 'snack machine' which served chocolate for 1¢.