Jewish Porcelain, Late 1700s, From Frederick the Great's Factory. Total of seventeen (17) pieces of Judenporzellan from the same set: two tea pots (9 and 7½ inches tall) with lids, one creamer (4¾ inches tall), six cups and six saucers, produced by the royal Berliner Porzellanmanufaktur owned by Frederick II (the Great) of Prussia (reigned 1740-86). The bottom of each piece (except the two tops) are stamped "BPM". Today the company is known as the Royal Porcelain Manufacture (KPM). Light to purplish pink and white, with gilt decorations. There are a few old repairs to two of these pieces: the creamer and the taller pot, where the handle attaches to the body, but no other defects are noted.
In 1767, Frederick the Great took over a porcelain factory owned by Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky (1710-75), whom Frederick had supported in various enterprises since 1740 and who went bankrupt for a second time in '67. In order to increase business for the factory, which had twelve furnaces and employed 400 men, Frederick decreed that a tax be levied on Jews who wanted to obtain marriage, death, business and other licenses and permits. Some of the porcelain bought by the Jews was inferior, that is, it had some defects. These are very beautiful pieces, at least 225 years old, with a very interesting history.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 7,500.
Judaica
