The Royal Prussian foundries were started by Prussian-born Friedrich Wilhelm von Reden (1752-1815), a pioneer of mining and metallurgy. The operation began in Gleiwitz in 1796, and Berlin in 1804, and both factories operated through the end of the 19th century. The relationship between the Royal Prussian iron foundries and Wedgewood began when Reden travelled to Britain in 1789 to study the new English and Scottish iron-working technologies. He purchased Wedwood jasper cameos and medallions depicting allegorical and classical scenes, later collecting larger Wedgwood wares like molds and vases. These served as the basis for many of the foundries output. In turn, Wedgewood cast copies of portrait medallions originally made by the Prussian foundries. The Birmingham Museum of Art in Alabama houses one of the most impressive collections of 19th century decorative German cast-ironworks, including a remarkable two-handled vase after a Wedgewood design (2017.36).