Lot 186 D α

This plate is almost certainly the one entered in the king's account book as an order placed by Frederick William II on 28th November 1834: "6 Agl. pearl plates No. 3, with turned edge matt gilt and bright gold border as; 1 with coul: military figures / infantry/ [33 thalers]" (p. 210).

According to Daniel Hohrath (Bavarian Army Museum Ingolstadt), the model for the extremely fine painting was plate 25 of the series "Das preußische Heer" published by L. Sachse & Co. in Berlin in 1830, drawn and lithographed by L. Elsholz, C. Rechlin and I. Schulz. However, the depiction was modified by the porcelain painter: The soldier with a knapsack added on the right belonged to the Guard Jaeger battalion. The regiment originally lined up in the background was replaced by an illustration of the battle formation. Daniel Hohrath identified the soldier on the left as belonging to the 1st Guards Regiment on Foot, the non-commissioned officer with a flag from the 1st Line Infantry Regiment, and the third soldier from the left (with a changed posture, namely now leaning on his bayonet) as belonging to the 34th Infantry Regiment. The 1st Guards Regiment on Foot was the royal regiment of the kings of Prussia since 1806, after the defeat of Prussia by Napoleon in the Battle of Jena and Auerstedt. From then on, all Prussian kings and princes wore this uniform. The king was regimental commander, chief of the I Battalion and chief of the 1st Company.

Claudia Tetzlaff describes the development of the unusual dessert plate in the KPM catalogue. In 1834, two bisque overlays were added to the smoother pearl rim model, so that the plate "now derives its charm from the contrast between the unglazed and gilded relief borders." The new model was initially used exclusively for royal orders.