THE CRAZE FOR RS. PRUSSIA PORCELAIN
As we all know RS. Prussia Porcelain was manufactured in Germany during the Art Nouveau Period (1876-1920s).
The craze for R.S. Prussia porcelains and drastic increase in prices was fueled by the thirst for such elegant irregular shapes, elaborate decoration; as well as the fineness of the extra thin and fragile porcelain exonerating the Art Nouveau movement of the whimsical and fantasy. Many objects made during the art nouveau movement had the effect of graciously flowing and meandering into the fantasy to lift people away from their everyday existence into a world of imaginary things, a form of escapism. Because this porcelain is so thin, many pieces did not survive the ravages of time. This is why people who understand the art of beautiful porcelain making and artistic merit of fine porcelain decorating such as these crave the elegance and luxury of owning such porcelains. Consequently the demand for and availability dwindling command higher prices as years go by.
Contrary to popular belief, R.S. Prussia porcelains are not hand painted. They are first transfer printed and then touched up by hand in places to accentuate the finer or the more delicate detail of the subject whether it is floral, portrait or scenic. The beauty of R.S. Prussia porcelains is that they have a very art nouveau flavor in terms of their shapes, their embossing and delicate thin porcelain blanks, as well as the depicted subject. Generally speaking, the more refined and thinner blanks were usually made closer to the turn of the century and later versions began to be of thicker, plainer and heavier porcelain, with less emphasis on the femininity of the porcelain as well as decoration. By 1930 most RS Prussia porcelain production ceased.
- Here are some items that relate to this article:
- RS. PRUSSIA, REINHOLD SCHLEGELMILCH, PORCELAIN BOWL, C.1910-15
- R.S.PRUSSIA, REINHOLD SCHLEGELMILCH, PORCELAIN MUG, C. 1900-15