Porcelain, polychrome on-glaze painting, gilt accents
Berlin, 18th/19th century
Royal Porcelain Factory (KPM), founded in 1763 in Berlin
Under glaze blue scepter mark, one figure with impressed mark ‘R’
External decoration
Height: 18.6 and 18.8 cm
Good condition, consistent with age; partially restored 

The two figures show a motif that was especially in the 18th century popular: continental allegories, and show two personifications of the African continent. The condiment bowls indicate the practical use of the figures. Possibly they were moulded for of a multipartite centerpiece. Mostly, four different condiment bowls were placed on an elaborately decorated tray, depicting an allegorical subject such as the four seasons and the four continents.

Condition:

The condiment bowls are in good condition, consistent with age. The gilt décor and the painting are slightly rubbed in places. The left arm of the female Moor is restored in the area of the wrist. The heights are 18.6 and 18.8 cm.

Royal Porcelain Factory (KPM)

The first porcelain manufactory at Berlin was founded on the suggestion of Frederick the Great by Wilhelm Caspar Wegely and J. Benckgraff in 1752, yet already 5 years later production was stopped because the king was not satisfied with the porcelain. With the invasion of Meissen by the Prussian army, many modelers and porcelain painters came to Berlin, where in 1761 the merchant Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky founded a new factory. This was finally bought in 1763 by Frederick the Great, who named it ‘Royal Porcelain Factory’ and introduced the cobalt blue scepter mark. During this time, the factory began producing exquisite tableware in a late Rococo style, which was painted with flowers, birds and scenes after Watteau Boucher and Dutch masters in vivid colors. Famous porcelain painters of the manufactory were K. W. Böhme, B. Böhme and K. J. C. Klipfel; master modelers were Friedrich Elias Meyer and his brother Wilhelm Christian. Typical Berlin porcelain patterns on tableware were moldings, scale-ground borders, landscapes, birds and animals, molded basketwork patterns and pierced rims. After Theodor Schmuz-Baudiß took over as artistic director in 1798, the tableware was decorated in underglaze painting with landscapes and cityscapes in delicate colors. In 1871 the factory was moved to its present location at the Tiergarten near the Spree, so that the raw materials and finished products were finally able to be transported by ship. In 1886 the painting of porcelain tiles was added as a new line of production under the direction of Professor Alexander Kips. After the destruction of the factory during WWII, KPM was taken over in 1988 by the state of Berlin and since 2006 has been in the possession of Berlin based private banker Jörg Woltmann. (bde)

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