KPM
KPM Berlin produces exclusively by hand, using a process handed down for over 260 years. The decorations are painted freehand, making every piece unique. Before a product receives the trademark cobalt blue sceptre, it has to go through numerous strict quality controls.
In 1763 Frederick the Great founded the Royal Porcelain Manufactory in Berlin; he gave the manufactory its name and his symbol, the royal sceptre. Twenty one services with up to 500 individual pieces were commissioned by Frederick the Great himself for his palaces: the Reliefzierat, Neuzierat, Rocaille and Neuosier models were developed, their designs and colours matching the interiors of the palaces. High ranking guests of the Federal President still dine from the Rocaille service at Bellevue Palace.
In 1855 the first retail store was opened, and the factory's warehouse was converted into a sales gallery with showcases, shelves and shop windows.
With the abdication of the Hohenzollerns, the Royal Porcelain Manufactory became the State Porcelain Manufactory Berlin, the director being Gunther von Pechmann, chairman of the German Wekbund. In 1929 the Urbino dinner service was designed and awarded the Grand Prix at the 1937 Paris World Fair.
In 2006 Jorg Woltmann took over the Royal Porcelain Manufactory Berlin as the sole shareholder.
