KPM Berlin – A Walk Through the Manufactory

For over 260 years, the Royal Porcelain Manufactory Berlin, founded by Frederick the Great, has stood for design “Handmade in Berlin.”
In December of last year, the team from Kunsthaus Lempertz had the opportunity to visit the historic Berlin manufactory—an occasion that also coincided with several anniversaries being celebrated in 2026: Jörg Woltmann marks 20 years as owner of KPM, while Lempertz’s Berlin auction is also celebrating its 20th anniversary.At the same time, the manufactory commemorates the 250th birthday of Queen Louise of Prussia, which is honored, among other things, with a life-sized porcelain bust of the “Queen of Hearts” (Schlegel). We were welcomed by Martina Hacker, Managing Director of KPM, who personally guided us through the workshops and provided fascinating insights into the creation of the famous Berlin porcelain.

More than 150 artisans work here, producing pieces of the highest quality through predominantly handcrafted processes. Even a simple white cup goes through 29 stages of production over the course of around two weeks.

To this day, production follows traditional methods. A mixture of kaolin, feldspar, and quartz forms the porcelain mass, whose exact formula, the so-called “Arcanum”, is closely guarded. Poured into plaster molds or shaped on the wheel, the individual parts are assembled, glazed, and fired at high temperatures. Only first-quality porcelain pieces are then decorated by freehand painting or with 24-carat gold, transforming them into unique, one-of-a-kind works.

Designs from the 18th century, such as the famous Kurland service, have long since become design classics and are still produced today. They represent a tradition that continues both in the manufactory’s models and in its painting.

Matthias Dotschko, Head of Master Painting, emphasizes that the decorations and painting of historical porcelain cannot simply be copied; however, their artisanal subtleties, such as characteristic brushstrokes or special painting techniques, continue to serve as inspiration for new designs.Historical porcelain also enjoys great attention on the art market. For Martina Hacker, auctions play a key role in bringing these historical works into the public eye and highlighting their importance as cultural heritage. The Berlin auction in particular strengthens the manufactory’s visibility while also underscoring Berlin’s role as a center for porcelain.With the foundation Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin, established by Jörg Woltmann in 2017, this cultural heritage is preserved for the long term.

In this way, the Berlin manufactory maintains a living tradition, whose works not infrequently find their way, via Lempertz’s auction house, into major collections around the world.