Lempertz Jubilee Auction sees the Return of a magnificent Vase to Berlin

The international interest in this museum-quality vase and its sensational history was already significant in the run-up to the event. Now, following its journey through aristocratic salons and political upheavals, the 116-centimetre-tall, one-of-a-kind vase by the Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur Berlin has returned to its place of origin via the Lempertz auction, with KPM Berlin owner Jörg Woltmann acquiring the museum-quality piece.

This monumental vase was created at the end of the 19th century as an impressive demonstration of the manufactory’s capabilities and a testament to both its artistic and technical mastery, with an eye to the World’s Fairs in Chicago, Paris and St Louis. Emperor Wilhelm II, however, presented this piece as a gift to his personal friend Philipp, Prince of Eulenburg. The two shared a close relationship, which Maximilian Harden used to spark a scandal. The so-called Harden-Eulenburg affair led to the breakdown of their friendship, but the vase survived. With the ‘20 Years of Berlin Auctions’ anniversary auction at Lempertz, this piece – significant in both social and art-historical terms – is ‘coming home’: KPM owner Jörg Woltmann acquired this truly spectacular object.

This exceptionally elaborate bespoke piece exemplifies the technical and artistic capabilities of KPM Berlin at the turn of the 20th century. The design is the work of Alexander Kips, who had served as the manufactory’s artistic director since 1888. With his formally rich, sculpturally accentuated designs, Kips shaped KPM Berlin’s creative output for decades.

This masterpiece of porcelain art combines sculptural and ceramic excellence. Numerous free-form applications – notably the iguana, which is almost 110 cm long, as well as the crowning pineapple, lemons and corn cobs – bear witness to the manufactory’s mastery. With its elaborate design, the vase represents a high point in KPM Berlin’s production of its time. KPM Berlin owner Jörg Woltmann acquired the vase for €381,000 at the ‘20 Years of Berlin Auctions’ anniversary sale held by Lempertz on 25th April. This was a double anniversary, as it has also been 20 years since the Berlin entrepreneur took over the Royal Porcelain Manufactory as sole shareholder. For this extraordinary piece of porcelain history, the circle is thus complete after more than a century.

Jan Bykowski
Press and PR
bykowski@lempertz.com
Tel. 0049 (0)221 925729 -57