Lot 8: Georg Grasegger, Hillige Magd und Knecht, KPM Berlin, 1915

Condition:The group of figures is in very good condition with minimal signs of age and wear. The height measures 34.5 cm. (nlu)

Georg Grasegger (1873-1927)
The sculptor attended the carving school in Partenkirchen and subsequently the School of Applied Arts. After that he studied at the Academy in Munich as a pupil of Wilhelm von Rümann. Since 1901 Grasegger worked at the School of Applied Arts in Cologne. He was involved in creating sculptural works for the Palace of Justice and the Northern Cemetery in Schwabing, Munich, and alongside created free-standing sculptures and handcrafts in the manner of Art Nouveau. Grasegger was present at most German exhibitions, for example at the Glaspalast Munich in 1896, 1899, 1901 and 1911 as well as at the Große Berliner Kunstausstellung in 1905, 1912 and 1918. Today, his works can be seen i.a. at the Gewerbemuseum in Nürnberg and at the museum of decorative arts in Cologne.

Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin
The first porcelain manufactory at Berlin was founded on the suggestion of Frederick the Great by Wilhelm Caspar Wegely and J. Benckgraff in 1752, yet already 5 years later production was stopped because the king was not satisfied with the porcelain. With the invasion of Meissen by the Prussian army, many modelers and porcelain painters came to Berlin, where in 1761 the merchant Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky founded a new factory. This was finally bought in 1763 by Frederick the Great, who named it ‘Royal Porcelain Factory’ and introduced the cobalt blue scepter mark. During this time, the factory began producing exquisite tableware in a late Rococo style, which was painted with flowers, birds and scenes after Watteau Boucher and Dutch masters in vivid colors. Famous porcelain painters of the manufactory were K. W. Böhme, B. Böhme and K. J. C. Klipfel; master modelers were Friedrich Elias Meyer and his brother Wilhelm Christian. Typical Berlin porcelain patterns on tableware were moldings, scale-ground borders, landscapes, birds and animals, molded basketwork patterns and pierced rims. After Theodor Schmuz-Baudiß took over as artistic director in 1798, the tableware was decorated in underglaze painting with landscapes and cityscapes in delicate colors. In 1871 the factory was moved to its present location at the Tiergarten near the Spree, so that the raw materials and finished products were finally able to be transported by ship. In 1886 the painting of porcelain tiles was added as a new line of production under the direction of Professor Alexander Kips. After the destruction of the factory during WWII, KPM was taken over in 1988 by the state of Berlin and since 2006 has been in the possession of Berlin based private banker Jörg Woltmann.

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