Antique Sauce Tureen, Tableware of Kaiser Wilhelm II.

This sauce tureen from a "Neuosier" dinner service Berlin for Kaiser Wilhelm II., dated 1899, originates from the tradition-steeped Royal Porcelain Manufactory Berlin (KPM) and is counted among the particularly artistically designed pieces of the Imperial Era. Crafted from white glazed porcelain, the bouillon pot features a rococo cartouche executed in iron red with 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 leaf border, as well as beautifully crafted handles and sculpturally modeled flowers and buds, which give the piece extraordinary depth and artisanal refinement. On the underside are 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, an indication of the direct connection to the Prussian court.

Dimensions and Condition

With its dimensions of 26 cm (length) × 18 cm (width) × 7.5 cm (height) and in very good condition – merely one area of restoration on the lower ring – this sauce tureen 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 court household of Wilhelm II. The Kaiser introduced a uniform porcelain for all palaces. In the mid-1890s, the Office of the Lord Chamberlain placed a first large order with the KPM. However, "Neuosier" was not an exclusive custom commission for the Kaiser: the shape 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 also reached the market – albeit without the eagle. The King of Italy even had the service produced with the Savoyard coat of arms.

"Neuosier" Tableware

In the KPM price lists of 1913, "Neuosier" is listed with 55 individual pieces for the dinner service and 14 pieces 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 range also included jelly cups, bouillon pots, and a multitude of "compote dishes." The latter, in particular, provide insight into the dining culture of the Imperial era, which featured a great variety of dishes and serving forms.