A Berlin KPM porcelain plate from the godparent's service for Friedrich Franz von Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Model "perlenteller". Decorated to the centre with a woman in classical costume playing a cithara, the blue border with red stylised flowers. Blue sceptre mark, impressed sceptre with K.P.M., red imperial orb mark, gilt I, impressed 22, incised III. D 25.8 cm.
Circa 1837.
This plate is thought to originate from the godparent's service gifted to Duke Friedrich Franz II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin by King Frederick William III. The service was produced in 1837 and delivered in parts each Christmas until 1848. Two designs by August von Kloeber were used for the service, and he is known to have worked for KPM until 1836. A gouache dated 1833 showing a muse playing a cithara, upon which the motif of this plate is based, can be found in the archives of KPM.
Provenance
Rhenish private collection, sold by Lempertz Berlin, auction 973, 9th May 2009, lot 203.
Literature
The oil painting and drawing by A. v. Kloeber upon which this work is based illus. in cat.: "...auf Allerhöchsten Befehl...", Berlin 1983, no. 37f. The motif was also used on the large Münchener vase produced for Karl Freiherr von Müffling, which is mentioned in the royal accounts book in November 1842 (ibid. no. 63, not in Charlottenburg Palace).