KPM "Neuosier" Cream Pot – Imperial Porcelain for Wilhelm II with "FR" Cartouche

This small cream pot from a "Neuosier" dinner service Berlin for Emperor Wilhelm II, undated, originates from the tradition-steeped Royal Porcelain Manufactory Berlin (KPM) and is one of the particularly artfully crafted pieces from the Imperial Era. Made of white glazed porcelain, the bouillon pot features a rococo cartouche executed in iron-red, displaying the Prussian eagle and the cipher "FR" – Friedrich Rex under the royal crown. This motif points directly to Frederick the Great and the Prussian monarchical tradition.

The decor is complemented by colorful flower bouquets, a finely worked golden vine border, as well as beautifully crafted handles and sculpturally modeled flowers and buds, which give the piece extraordinary depth and artisanal refinement. On the reverse, one finds the classic KPM marks: the underglaze blue scepter mark and the red imperial orb mark. Furthermore, the bouillon pot bears the blue cipher "WR" – Wilhelm Rex under the royal crown, a reference to its direct connection to the Prussian court.

Dimensions and Condition

With its dimensions of 7 cm (diameter) × 6 cm (height) and in very good condition, this cream pot combines royal provenance, artisan quality, and historical significance. A true highlight for collectors of KPM porcelain, Imperial Era tableware, and representative objects of German history.

"Neuosier" and its History

"Neuosier" was the standard tableware of the imperial household of Wilhelm II. The Emperor introduced a uniform porcelain for all his palaces. In the mid-1890s, the Office of the Grand Master of the Court placed an initial large order with KPM. However, "Neuosier" was not an exclusive custom commission for the Emperor: the form was commercially available. The difference lay in the painting. Although the Berlin flower bouquets were adopted, they were modified in the style of the "third Rococo," reduced in color to monochrome iron-red, and supplemented by a cartouche with the Prussian eagle.

It is interesting to note that this painting style also reached the retail market—albeit without the eagle. The King of Italy even had the service produced with the Savoyard coat of arms.

"Neuosier" Tableware

In the 1913 KPM price lists, "Neuosier" is recorded with 55 individual items for the dinner service and 14 items for the coffee and tea service. Many pieces could be ordered in several sizes—sometimes in up to eight variations. In addition to plates, platters, and bowls, the assortment also included jelly cups, bouillon pots, and a multitude of "compote bowls." The latter, in particular, provide insight into the dining culture of the Imperial Era, which featured a wide variety of dishes and serving styles.