A Fine Berlin (KPM) Porcelain Plaque of A Vestal Virgin

Object Description

A Fine Berlin (K.P.M.) Porcelain Plaque of A Vestal Virgin, After Angelica Kauffman, in a giltwood frame.

Impressed sceptre mark, ‘KPM’, letter ‘H’, incised numerals ’12 . 9 3/4′.

After the painting by Angelica Kauffman (Swiss, 1741-1807), depicting a chaste young maiden dressed in white holding an oil lamp.

The original oil painting by Kauffman was painted between 1781 -1782 and now resides in the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen, Dresden,

German, Circa 1890.

Object History

KPM

Founded in Berlin in 1750 ‘KPM’ or ‘Koenigliche Porzellan-Manufaktur’ acquired its name and Royal patronage when the Prussian king, Frederick the Great, purchased the manufactory in 1760.

Its distinguished trademark from then on became the royal blue sceptre, which is stamped (painted prior to 1837) on every piece. All painted pieces produced by KPM are signed by the painter.

The complicated and exacting process of painting on porcelain became very popular in the mid to late nineteenth century. Drawing inspiration from old master portraits and genre scenes, artists were able to achieve incredible images embued with a luminous beauty through the translucent quality of the porcelain.

KPM porcelain represented the height of technical and artistic achievement during this period and large plaques particularly signed examples have become rare and highly sought after.

Object Details