KPM - Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin

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KPM
Royal magnificence
Rococo, approx. 1730-1770

The predominant stylistic devices of the Rococo period are asymmetrical forms, and shell- and tendril-shaped objects (French: Rocaille).
Prussian/Frederician Rococo is defined by French savoir-vivre. French was the language of the court, Frederick the Great had Sanssouci Palace built (1745-47, designed by Georg W. v. Knobelsdorff, interior design by Johann Michael Hoppenhaupt), Antoine Watteau was among the favoured painters (he created the new fêtes galantes genre). The king corresponded extensively with Voltaire, the philosopher of the Enlightenment.

The famous soirées reveal Frederick II as an interpreter of Johann Joachim Quanz's flute compositions. Other court musicians included C.P. Emanuel Bach and Heinrich Graun. Worth mentioning as well is The Musical Offering composed by Johann Sebastian Bach for Frederick.
The lavishly-set table, complete with KPM porcelain, was the highlight of soirées at Sanssouci Palace. The king had 21 table services produced for his palaces; each one with as many as 450 individual pieces.

The company's chief modeller, Friedrich Elias Meyer, created the Reliefzierat, Neuzierat, Antikzierat (Rocaille) and Neuosier forms, which exemplify Frederician Rococo and are still used today.

1739 Frederick II pens Anti-Machiavelli, an essay about enlightened absolutism (published in 1740 in Voltaire's revised edition).
1742 Nauguration of the Royal Opera House on the Unter den Linden boulevard with Caesar and Cleopatra
1763-69 The New Palace in Potsdam is erected.