Lot 41

TWO BERLIN COMMEMORATIVE MATTE-BLUE AND GOLD GROUND CABINET CUPS AND TWO SAUCERS (KONISCH UND CAMPANERHENKEL UND UNTERTASSE)

ONE CUP WITH BLUE SCEPTER MARK FOR CIRCA 1815, INCISED X; THE OTHER CUP AND BOTH SAUCERS WITH BLUE SCEPTER MARKS AND IRON-RED PRINTED KPM AND ORB MARKS, THIS CUP AND ONE SAUCER ALSO WITH IRON-RED PRINTED JUBILEE MARK OF 1913, THE SECOND SAUCER WITH BLACK PRINTED IRON CROSS MARK USED 1914-1918

Details

TWO BERLIN COMMEMORATIVE MATTE-BLUE AND GOLD GROUND CABINET CUPS AND TWO SAUCERS (KONISCH UND CAMPANERHENKEL UND UNTERTASSE)
One cup with blue scepter mark for circa 1815, incised X; the other cup and both saucers with blue scepter marks and iron-red printed KPM and orb marks, this cup and one saucer also with iron-red printed Jubilee mark of 1913, the second saucer with black printed iron cross mark used 1914-1918
The two cups of flaring cylindrical form, the integral upright loop handle and interior burnished gold, the exterior inscribed in laurel, ivy, rosemary or oak with the date 1813 reserved on the matte blue ground within an oval cartouche of gilt grasses; the two saucers decorated en suite with a labeled map of 'Völkerschlacht be Leipzig am 18 u: 19 Oct.', one reserved within similar grasses, the other within a gilt line, 3 1/8 in. (8 cm.) and 2 7/8 in. (7 cm.) diameter, the cups; 5½ in. (14 cm.) diameter, the saucers; together with a Continental Greek revival gold-ground cup and sacuer, 19th century, the cylindrical cup raised on three gilt paw feet, the interior burnish gold and reserved with a trailing vine, the exterior enameled in strong colors on a matte gold ground with a Greek battle scene, the saucer en suite with a frieze of dogs, urns on pedestals, and figures at various pursuits (6)

Lot Essay

The present Berlin (K.P.M.) cups and saucers commemorate the Napoleonic 'Battle of the Nations' which took place 14-19 October 1813 around Leipzig. Involving five armies and over 100,000 men, it was the largest battle ever fought on European soil. Napoleon was soundly defeated, his hold over Germany and Poland broken, and he never again set foot on German soil.

See Erich Köllmann, Berliner Porzellan 1763-1963, Brunswick, 1966, band. II, tafel 194b, for the Berlin comemorative cup and saucer in the collection at Schloss Köp-enick, Museen für Kunstgewerbe, Berlin.

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