General Description

This bowl from the Damascus Service for Emperor Wilhelm II., dated 1906, originates from one of the most exclusive and representative porcelain services of the Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin (KPM). Between 1903 and 1915, this service was commissioned by the Emperor and served as an expression of imperial elegance and diplomatic representation at official occasions and receptions.

Today, the Damascus Service is one of the rarest porcelain series of the Imperial era. While individual plates occasionally appear on the art market, bowls or salad plates like this example are extremely rare and particularly sought after. The bowl offered here is made of white glazed porcelain, with fine craftsmanship and preserved in very good condition.

The underside bears the classic underglaze blue scepter mark and the red orb mark of KPM Berlin, both with dating. The dimensions are diameter: 21 cm, height: 5 cm – ideal for museum presentation or high-quality collections.

Origin & Inspiration

The name "Damascus Service" is demonstrably linked to Emperor Wilhelm II's journey to the Orient in 1898. During this trip, the monarch received a Chinese famille-rose bowl as a diplomatic gift – an object that later served as a model for the new imperial court service at the Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin (KPM). The original Chinese template shows overlapping lotus petals, a motif with Buddhist symbolism, which KPM adopted and further developed. It was supplemented by cartouche-like fields filled with botanical motifs, giving the service its characteristic blend of Oriental aesthetics and European plant iconography.

Decor & Design

The Damascus Service is one of the art historically most sophisticated KPM services of the Imperial era. It combines purple and green tones in the style of East Asian famille-rose porcelains with gilded chrysanthemums and large-scale lotus petals on the rim. In the center of many plates, there are finely painted botanical studies, such as depictions of dandelions or exotic plants. Between 1903 and 1905, over 900 plant designs were created specifically for this service – including European, Asian, and partly fantastical plant motifs. This diversity makes the Damascus Service an outstanding example of the combination of KPM craftsmanship, botanical illustration, and imperial representation.

"Service à la russe" – Meaning

The addition "à la russe" describes the serving style, not the decor. In this form of table arrangement, dishes are served course by course, with the platters presented by staff rather than placed centrally on the table. Around 1900, this serving style was considered modern, representative, and particularly suitable for state banquets and imperial receptions. The Damascus Service à la russe was used precisely for these occasions and was an important element of courtly cultural staging under Wilhelm II.

Usage & Provenance

The first large delivery of the Damascus Service comprised 530 dinner plates, which were invoiced on January 26, 1904, for 9,540 Marks – an impressive testament to the scope and significance of this court commission. The service was initially used in the New Palace in Potsdam before it arrived at Huis Doorn in 1919, where Wilhelm II went into exile after his abdication. After the Emperor's death in 1941, the majority of the service was transferred to Hohenzollern Castle.

Today, plates, platters, and sauce boats from the Damascus Service are among the most coveted collector's items from KPM Berlin. They regularly appear at major auction houses and specialized art dealers and are considered key works of imperial porcelain art.

This object combines imperial provenance, artistic craftsmanship, and historical significance – a true highlight for collectors of KPM porcelain, Imperial era dinnerware, and representative objects of German history.