The Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin, or KPM (Royal Porcelain Factory, Berlin, in English) was one of the most influential porcelain factories to emerge in 18th-century Germany, along with Nymphenburg and Meissen. KPM was the third incarnation of a company originally founded in 1751 by Wilhelm Caspar Wegely to take advantage of the burgeoning market for “white gold.” On the verge of bankruptcy, Wegely sold his inventory and tools to Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky, who in 1761 established another porcelain factory, which also failed, and was subsequently taken over by Frederick II of Prussia in 1763. Like Augustus II, Elector of Saxony, the patron of Meissen and a keen collector who described himself as suffering (quite happily) from “porcelain sickness,” Frederick II was proud to refer to himself as KPM’s “best customer.” KPM produces china and figurines to this day, and throughout its long history, it has been a style-setter for elegant tableware, particularly in the 1930’s, the period during which their popular patterns Urbino, Urania and Arkadia were designed.
Thanks to its royal patronage, KPM had the resources and contacts necessary to establish itself as a leading luxury producer, and supplied Russian and European elites with tableware in the Rococo and Neoclassical styles, as well as monumental vases, and decorative plaques. Many of these objects can be found today in major museums as a result of Frederick II’s penchant for sending KPM porcelain as diplomatic gifts throughout Europe. Unlike Meissen, which was known for crafting porcelain sculptures of dazzling complexity, KPM is revered for the precision and splendor of its surface decoration, and for its porcelain plaques depicting scenes from history and mythology. One especially lovely example circa 1790 is a neocalssical-style tea service decorated with gold accents and a grisaille design of figures from the ancient world. By contrast, this boldly colorful narrative cup and saucer set from the 1840’s depicts scenes from real life as colorfully as a painting. The set was commissioned by a gentleman for his wife as a tongue-in-cheek gift commemorating her misadventures while in town for a visit to the opera, which resulted in her opera glasses being stolen. The saucer shows the thief and the glasses, and the cup reveals the scene of the crime in vivid hues.
KPM was forced to move from its original location in 1867 due to the building of the new Prussian Parliament building, and this afforded the company the opportunity to to create a new factory with the newest equipment and materials of the day. With the growing popularity of Art Nouveau and the western fascination with Asian ceramics, KPM began formulating glazes that evoked the color palette and rich surfaces of Chinese porcelain. By the turn of the century, KPM was exhibiting its wares to a global audience at international expositions. At the end of World War I with the collapse of the Prussian monarchy, KPM was renamed the State Porcelain Manufactory Berlin, continuing to use the name KPM and its use of the cobalt blue sceptre mark that is painted on the bottom of every piece.
By the late 1920’s, the designers and craftsmen of KPM were inspired by the tenets of Modernism, particularly the styles of the Bauhaus and the Deutscher Werkbund. During this period, the firm’s aim was to produce useful household porcelain for a range of consumers, rather than catering to a small elite. Among the most successful patterns of this era was designer Trude Petri’s Urbino line, which is still produced today. Following World War II, KPM was temporarily housed in the town of Selb, and only returned to its rebuilt quarters in Berlin in 1957. In the 1980s, KPM became an private company independent of the state, and began to focus production on the preservation of historic forms, designs, and techniques. KPM continues to collaborate with designers from all over the world, most recently on the Berlin dinnerware service with designer Enzo Mari, and a collaboration with the luxury brands Bottega Veneta and Bugatti.
$1,852 / set
Set of Porcelain Vases by German KPM, 1960s
By KPM Porcelain, Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur (KPM)
Located in Barcelona, ES
Mid-Century Modern Bavaria porcelain vases and candle holder by KPM 'Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur', Germany, 1960s The set is composed by a pair of white unglazed textured porcel...
Ceramic, Porcelain
$32,307 / set
KPM Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Rococo Style Clock Set
By KPM Porcelain
Located in London, GB
KPM porcelain and gilt bronze Rococo style clock set German, late 19th century Measures; Clock on base: Height 51cm, width 36cm, depth 17cm Candelabra: Height 47cm, width 27cm, de...
Ormolu
Gilt Bronze Mounted Porcelain Clock
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Norwood, NJ
Gilt bronze mounted continental Porcelain clock. Porcelain and gilt bronze mounted continental clock. Loius XVI style. Figural and floral painted scenes. Features open escapement...
Gold Plate, Bronze
Antique French Gilt Bronze Rococo Clock
By A.D. Mougin
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A large, superb and very decorative original antique French clock by the famous maker A.D. Mougin. It is boldly modelled in the Rococo style in finely gilded bronze. Asymmetric waisted case, decorated profusely with sweeping acanthus leaves, 'C' scrolls and floral swags. To the top is a large elaborate final of a stylised flaming lamp...
Bronze
$1,161
H 16.15 in Dm 11.42 in
Large White KPM Berlin Porcelain Vase Trude Petri Bauhaus, Germany 1930s
By Trude Petri, Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur (KPM)
Located in München, BY
Large white porcelain vase, designed by Trude Petri for the Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur KPM in Berlin, Germany 1930s. Elegant, minimalist vase in a rare large size. This is a pe...
Porcelain
$22,000 / set
H 18 in W 20 in D 10 in
19th Century Gilt and Patinated Bronze Three Piece Clock Set by Victor Pierret
By Victor Athanase Pierret
Located in Long Island City, NY
A fine mid-19th century gilt and patinated bronze three-piece clock set By Victor Pierret The figural clock of a woman and a bird seated next to a basket of roses above a gilded base designed with flowers. The candelabra with cherubs holding six lights and sitting on a gilt sea shell base...
Bronze
$6,463 / set
H 16.93 in W 11.82 in D 7.49 in
Louis XV Style Bronze Figural Clock Garniture by Maison Baguès French circa 1870
By Maison Baguès
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine Louis XV style gilt and Patinated bronze figural clock garniture by Maison Baguès. This rare example of a clock garniture by Maison Baguès has a twin train eight-day movement striking on a bell. The garniture consists of a clock and a pair of candelabra en suite. The clock has a Rococo cast case surmounted by a patinated bronze putto playing a lyre, above a circular white enamel dial with Roman numerals, Arabic seconds and pierced hands. The dial inscribed 'Eug Bagues, Paris'. The case terminates in four scrolling legs put down on an acanthus cast plinth base. The candelabra en suite have gilt bronze pierced acanthus cast bases supporting patinated bronze putti each holding aloft three scrolling acanthus arms terminating in circular and foliate cast drip trays and nozzles. Maison Baguès The Baguès Company, located at 31, rue des Francs-Bourgeois, was founded in 1840 by Mr. Noel Baguès who started his business to cast liturgical bronzes. By 1880 the company had expanded into the production of bronze light fixtures in response to the development of electrical lighting. Carried on by Noël’s son Eugène and grandsons Victor and Robert, Maison Baguès continued to progress, adding intricately detailed iron lighting collections in the 1920s as well as stair banisters...
Bronze
Porcelain KPM Berlin Vase Designed by Margarete Friedlaender
By KPM Porcelain
Located in Vienna, AT
Buttle-shaped white porcelain with glossy glaze, designed by Margarete Friedlaender in the 1950s.
Porcelain
Antique French Gilt Bronze Rococo Clock - Fully Restored
By Samuel Marti
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A beautiful clock of ornate Rococo design, the case finely cast with scrolling acanthus and rocaille ornament, the front and sides with pierced lattice panels back with fabric, raise...
Bronze
Sèvres-Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Porcelain Mantel Clock
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in New York, NY
Marks to movement: ELR, 1903, R73 to underside of lid. Origin: French Date: circa 1900 Dimension: 17 1/2 x 12 x 6 1/2 inches.
Bronze
Rococo Style Gilt Bronze and Marble Satyr Figurals Mantel Clock
Located in Germantown, MD
A clean Rococo-style gilt bronze figural mantel clock. The clock is a late 19th-century piece, featuring cherubs / satyrs. The style is characterized by elaborate scrollwork, foliag...
Marble, Metal, Bronze, Ormolu
Mid-Century German Porcelain Vase Trio – KPM, Alka Kunst & Parbus
By KPM Porcelain
Located in Bochum, NRW
Elevate your space with this curated set of three exquisite mid-century German porcelain vases, a refined symphony of shape, artistry, and elegance. Each piece is hand-painted in vibrant floral motifs and finished with delicate gilded accents—ideal for collectors, designers, and vintage connoisseurs alike. The Set Includes: - Parbus Egg-Shaped Vase Sculptural and whimsical, this rounded porcelain vase rests on three elegant gilt feet. Decorated with a floral basket motif and edged in gold. Height: 14 cm (5.5 in) Diameter: 10 cm (3.9 in) - Alka Kunst “Gold Swans” Vase - Striking in silhouette, this tall vessel features two gilded swan handles. Its richly painted blooms and lustrous finish make it a true centerpiece. Height: 29 cm (11.4 in) Diameter: 14 cm (5.5 in) - KPM Krister...
Porcelain
Porcelain KPM Berlin Vase Designed by Siegmund Schütz
By KPM Porcelain
Located in Vienna, AT
"Sailer" Vase white porcelain with glossy glaze, designed by Siegmund Schütz in the 1960s. Up to 2 piceses available, price per vase.
Porcelain
$37,702 / set
H 22.45 in W 15.36 in D 6.7 in
Important Napoléon III Gilt-Bronze and Porcelain Clock Garniture, circa 1870
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An important Napoléon III gilt bronze and turquoise porcelain clock garniture. French, circa 1870. This very fine clock garniture comprises of a clock and a pair of vase form candelabra. The finely cast and chiselled gilt bronze case has a jewelled turquoise porcelain face with Roman Numerals above a plaque depicting children in a wooded landscape, flanked by expressive male and female cherub figures, cast in the round, beneath a scrolled pediment with torches en flambeau and surmounted by a turquoise vase and cover. The pair of candelabra en-suite are in the form of turquoise porcelain vases...
Bronze
KPM Berlin Blanc de Chine Five-light Rococo Style Candelabra
By KPM Porcelain
Located in San Francisco, CA
a large and well-executed pair of rococo style 4-arm candelabra with trefoil-shaped baluster stem supporting a single candle cup; all resting on a six-footed splayed base; the four d...
Porcelain