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An Imperial KPM Cobalt Blue-Ground Topographical Vase, Frederick the Great Scene
$29,360
£22,447.28
€25,854.74
CA$41,142.36
A$45,931.58
CHF 24,067.46
MX$562,247.60
NOK 305,656.94
SEK 288,195.68
DKK 192,956.55
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About the Item
A 19th Century Imperial KPM Cobalt Blue-Ground Topographical Vase, Frederick the Great Scene. This monumental cobalt blue-ground porcelain vase was produced by the Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur (KPM) in Berlin and bears the underglaze blue sceptre mark along with the imperial orb and eagle within a roundel. The form, referred to in KPM’s archival records as Französische Form mit Greifenkopfhenkeln, is distinguished by its amphora-like profile, upright neck, and high foot ring. The body rises from a stepped square gilt base and domed socle to a tall ovoid form that tapers sharply into the neck, which is cylindrical and upright. The vase is affixed at the shoulders with a pair of large applied handles in the form of gilt griffin heads, mythological beasts rendered with hooked beaks, curling tongues, and feathered crests, scrolling downward into voluted terminals set against the upper body.
The exterior is fully covered in a deep cobalt blue glaze, interrupted only by a single large rectangular reserve on the front and gilt bands outlining the structural transitions. The reserve is framed in matte gilt borders with foliate corner details and contains a hand-painted polychrome topographical view showing the equestrian monument of Frederick the Great on Unter den Linden in Berlin. The depiction includes the bronze statue at its center, with the king shown on horseback in full military attire atop an architectural pedestal, surrounded by freestanding statues and relief figures. The monument is enclosed by a low gilded fence before which stand figures in 19th-century dress, men in top hats, and long coats, women in full skirts and bonnets, facing the statue, giving the scene a sense of public engagement and contemporary interest. The depiction is highly detailed and includes recognizable architectural elements such as the facade of the former Royal Library (now the Berlin State Library) in the background, rendered with neoclassical columns, pilasters, and window bays.
The reverse of the vase is left undecorated apart from the uninterrupted cobalt blue glaze, which is evenly applied and free from visible flaws or variation. The upright neck features a wide gilt band encircling its entire surface, decorated with an elaborate tooled design of overlapping oak leaves and acorns. This decoration is rendered in matte and burnished gilt, producing tonal contrast within the gold surface itself. A similar gilt band is applied just above the foot, while thin gilt rings mark the junctions between the neck, shoulder, and foot.
The depiction on the central reserve commemorates the unveiling of the equestrian monument of Frederick II (Frederick the Great) by sculptor Christian Daniel Rauch. Commissioned in 1839 by King Friedrich Wilhelm III, the statue was cast in bronze beginning in 1845 by Karl Ludwig Friebel at the Lauchhammer foundry. Due to modifications and the complexity of the full sculptural program—comprising 74 figures including 21 life-sized generals, ministers, and statesmen, with four mounted generals at the corners—the monument was not completed until 1851. It was formally inaugurated on 31 May of that year at its site on Unter den Linden, one of Berlin’s principal ceremonial boulevards. Among the most prominent figures included are generals Friedrich Wilhelm von Seydlitz, Friedrich Heinrich Ludwig von Preussen, Hans Joachim von Zieten, and Ferdinand von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel. The subject was widely disseminated in lithographs, paintings, and porcelain works following its unveiling and represents a pinnacle of mid-19th-century Prussian commemorative sculpture.
The high level of detail and fidelity in the painted scene indicates that the decoration was executed by one of KPM’s master painters specializing in architectural and topographical views. The inclusion of contemporary pedestrians in period costume further suggests that the view was meant to record the monument as it stood at the time of completion, rather than a purely idealized representation.
The vase’s griffin-head handles are notable for their sculptural modeling and applied gilt finish. Each griffin features detailed feathering, pronounced facial expression, and a scrolling transition into the shoulder. The base is equally robust, composed of a stepped gilt square plinth overlaid with a circular domed foot bearing etched scrollwork and foliage motifs in matte gold.
Vases of this form and scale were produced primarily for royal commission or diplomatic presentation and were not sold through commercial channels. The combination of cobalt ground, architectural painting, and extensive gilding is typical of KPM’s most ambitious works during the reign of Friedrich Wilhelm IV and Wilhelm I. The vase likely dates to the years immediately following the 1851 unveiling of the statue and reflects both technical precision and state symbolism. Such pieces were part of a broader initiative to promote Prussian identity through monumental art, porcelain production, and public architecture, and this example encapsulates all three. The mark on the underside confirms the vase's production at KPM and includes the blue sceptre and imperial eagle within a roundel, surrounded by the inscription “Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin.” The mark is applied under the glaze and accompanied by a vertical dash or modeler’s toolmark above it, which is consistent with KPM’s 19th-century production practices.
Germany, Circa: 1860
H: 19.25" inches
- Creator:Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur (KPM) (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 19.25 in (48.9 cm)Width: 10.25 in (26.04 cm)Depth: 8 in (20.32 cm)
- Style:Louis XVI (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1860
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU919546001382
Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur (KPM)
Known by just KPM, the Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur company has been synonymous with exquisite porcelain works fit for nobility and royalty for over 200 years. KPM porcelain plates, centerpieces and sculptures are painstakingly formed through ages-old techniques and meticulously painted by hand, producing one-of-a-kind quality.
KPM began in Berlin in 1763, founded by King Frederick II of Prussia, after two other entrepreneurs had been unsuccessful in establishing porcelain manufacturing companies in Germany. In 1878, KPM developed a relationship with the Chemical-Technical Research Institute and its director, Hermann Seger. This partnership gave KPM early access to advances in porcelain production and coloration.
KPM flourished under the banner of royal ownership until 1918, when it became a state-run entity after the monarchy was disbanded following Germany’s loss in World War I. With the rise of the Nazi Party in the 1930s, many of the company’s top designers and directors were dismissed, denied exhibitions or forced to flee Germany due to Jewish heritage or loyalty to Jewish colleagues. In 1943, an Allied bombing raid destroyed the KPM factory, and the company was not reestablished until after the war.
KPM reopened in Franconia and began producing porcelain wares. Some staff also worked on reconstructing the historic KPM site in Berlin. In 1957, manufacturing returned to the original company premises.
KPM rebounded over the next few decades. In 2006, in a step to privatize companies throughout the country, German financier Jörg Woltmann bought the organization.
Since its privatization, the company has opened many galleries and shops around Germany and has worked in collaboration with notable brands like Bottega Veneta and Bugatti motor company in recent years.
Although rooted in the Rococo style, KPM has adapted its craft to meet the current trends, all while maintaining the highest levels of excellence throughout its centuries of operation. It continues to produce lavish, elegant porcelain works for elite clientele the world over.
On 1stDibs, browse a vast selection of Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur serveware, decorative objects, lighting and more.
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