A rare Berlin (K.P.M.) monumental tazza dish, circa 1855 | Seltene monumentale Tazza-Schale, Berlin KPM, circa 1855

The decoration seen on the present tazza, Amor und Nixe (amor and mermaid) is used several times at the K.P.M factory after 1855. According to the factory archives the scene features:

- In 1854 on a circular "Bildplatte" with this motiv, with gilt-work around a central scene on a brown ground;

- In 1860 on another circular "Bildplatte", though no description of colours is provided;

- and in 1864, another, registered as table top, but in the same dimension of 16 inches diameter, without a description of colours.

It is probable the present tazza is one of two recorded in 1855 and 1856 respectively. A tazza painted with this subject was included by the manufactory in the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1855. The protocol of the "council of Honour" of the manufactory mentions the tazza in January 1855. This was likely purchased by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV, as it was noted in the King's cash book in March 1855. According to its description it had a base with three sculptural dolphins in biscuit porcelain. It is also noted that the painter of the figures was Hermann Kühn, while the rest of the decoration of the central scene was Hermann Looschen, and the painter of ornaments was Adolf Walsleben. In 1856 another tazza with this motif features in the records, though no further description is included. That example was given by the King to the (widowed) Queen Marie of Saxony, who was a sister of the Queen of Prussia, so as such a sister in law to the king.

A further tazza of this model was presented to Prince Albert by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia, at Schloss Augustusburg near Brühl during a visit of the British royal family to Germany in August 1845. Painted in neoclassical taste to the designs of Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844), centered with Night with her children Sleep. Retained at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, obj. no. RCIN 41314.

Sotheby's is grateful to Dr. Samuel Wittwer for his assistance in the cataloguing of this lot.