489 - KPM Berlin Reticulated Plate Ceres with Cornucopias, Design Schmuz-Baudiss, 20th c.

KPM Berlin Reticulated Plate Ceres with Cornucopias, Design Schmuz-Baudiss, 20th c. Porcelain, polychrome painted and gilt, glazed. Plate by the Royal Porcelain Manufactory Berlin in the Ceres pattern. The rim with an encircling lattice piercing in basketwork form, the edge shaped and scalloped. Above the piercing a relief band picked out in green with cornucopias spilling fruit and flowers in violet, blue, pink, yellow and red, between them golden-yellow sheaves of corn and green foliage; gold dots accentuate the edge. The well left white. On the base the underglaze blue sceptre mark and the red orb above KPM. Good condition. D. 22 cm. The design was created in 1912 for the 150th anniversary of the manufactory, celebrated in 1913; Theodor Hermann Schmuz-Baudiss (1859 to 1942) was then artistic director of the KPM. The name refers to Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture and fertility. The manufactory has used the sceptre since 1763, taken from the electoral Brandenburg coat of arms; the orb was added in 1832 as a decorators' mark, red standing for floral and polychrome painting. The lettering KPM beneath it was used from 1870 to 1992, after which it was dropped.