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.
19th Century KPM porcelain plaque of the Battle of Corinth
By KPM Porcelain
Located in London, GB
19th Century KPM porcelain plaque of the Battle of Corinth German, 19th Century Frame: Height 37.5cm, width 44cm, depth 5cm Plaque: H...
Giltwood, Porcelain
Large KPM Porcelain Plaque of 'Romeo and Juliet' 19th Century
By KPM Porcelain
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality large 19th century KPM Porcelain plaque, depicting 'Romeo and Juliet' mounted in a carved giltwood frame.
Porcelain
$4,950Sale Price|33% Off
H 13 in Dm 10.38 in
German 19th Century Berlin Porcelain Kpm Covered Bacchus Tureen Centerpiece
By Royal Porzellan Bavaria KPM Germany Handarbeit.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine German 19th century Berlin porcelain covered Tureen, the finial in form of an infant Bacchus on a domed cover with molded band and painted scenes divided by floral sprays...
Porcelain
Porcelain Figure, KPM Berlin 19th century
By KPM Porcelain
Located in Belmont, MA
Woman with a parrot, KPM Berlin, 19th century.. Beautiful figurine of a standing woman in oriental dress holding a parrot in her right hand. Naturalistically painted with fired KPM mark...
Porcelain
$650Sale Price|49% Off
H 14.5 in W 12.5 in D 2 in
KPM Porcelain Plaque of Moustached Gentleman, Late Victorian, 1896
By Franz Till
Located in Savannah, GA
KPM or Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur, (Royal Porcelain Factory) was one of the most influential porcelain factories to emerge in 18th-century Germany. This handsome moustached gent...
Giltwood, Porcelain
19th Century German Porcelain Kpm Berlin Hand Painted Double Salt
By KPM Porcelain
Located in Vero Beach, FL
This open salt was made in the 19th century in typical Rococo style. The interior of the salt basin and the stand is delicately painted with birds, flowers and insects. In the center...
Enamel
KPM Porcelain Hand Painted Oval Bowl, 19th Century
By KPM Porcelain
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Antique 19th century hand painted porcelain with floral and gilt decoration. The bowl with center floral decoration with detailed hand gilt all around. The 19th century KPM mark...
Porcelain
$2,360Sale Price|20% Off
H 16.25 in W 16.25 in D 1.5 in
Continental 19th Century Enameled Decorated Porcelain Painted Plaque "Courting"
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine continental 19th century enameled decorated porcelain plaque depicting a garden courting scene of a gentleman reading to poems to two young ladies, within an ebonized wood fra...
Porcelain, Wood
$11,125 / set
H 7.09 in W 7.49 in D 4.73 in
Meissen Set of the Four Seasons Porcelain Figures, 19th Century
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An enchanting set of four, late 19th century Meissen porcelain groups, depicting the four seasons, each with putti playing around a logs fire, a bail of hay, picking grapes and garla...
Porcelain
Fine Quality KPM Porcelain Plaque of a Young Woman
Located in New York, NY
KPM Porcelain Plaque German, 19th century Beauty with headband Signed Greiner Painted plaque Measures: 13 1/4 in. x 11 1/4 in.
Porcelain
$395
H 4.375 in W 3 in D 4.25 in
19th Century, Sevres Style "Battle of Waterloo" Porcelain Cup - Signed Desprez
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Atlanta, GA
This finely painted porcelain cup and cover commemorating the Battle of Waterloo is a masterful example of 19th-century French historicist ceramic art, signed in the enamel at lower ...
Porcelain
19th Century KPM Porcelain Plaque
By KPM Porcelain
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century KPM porcelain plaque, depicting a mother and her children on a winters days. Mounted in a 19th century carved gilt...
Porcelain
$30,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 21 in W 17.5 in D 2 in
A KPM Hand-Painted Porcelain Plaque of a Japonism Beauty, Signed Wagner
By Wagner, KPM Porcelain
Located in New York, NY
A Gorgeous 19th Century KPM Hand-Painted Porcelain Plaque of a Japonism Beauty, Signed by the Artist Wagner Wien .n C. Kiesel. The beauty is seen in a beautiful orange and white kimono...
Porcelain