WHAT DOES THE QUADRIGA HAVE TO DO WITH KPM BERLIN?
It’s as much a part of the capital as the TV tower and Currywurst. Located between the boulevard Unter den Linden and Straße des 17. Juni, the Brandenburg Gate stands Brandenburg Gate the heart of Berlin—and is a silent witness to the city’s exciting history. We’ll tell you why KPM Berlin can also be found high on the gate.
Did the Prussian King Frederick II. that the early-Classical Triumphal Gate would go down in history as Berlin’s most famous landmark and a national symbol? When he had it built in 1789 based on designs by Carl Gotthard Langhans, he could not have foreseen the many historical events of the 19th and 20th centuries that are inextricably linked to the structure. The quadriga crowning the gate holds particular symbolic significance. Based on a design by the sculptor Johann Gottfried Schadow, the work depicts Victoria, the goddess of victory, bringing peace to the city atop a four-horse chariot—a peace that was, for the most part, fleeting, a fact that also left Brandenburg Gate on Brandenburg Gate . Destruction caused by wars, reconstruction, and restoration were not uncommon.
Prussian all-rounder
And so it was that the victory symbol was replaced in 1814 by a design by Karl Frederick Schinkel. The architect crowned the Victoria's pole with an oak wreath enclosing an Iron Cross, on which an eagle sits with outstretched wings. And it is precisely this artist who is associated with the Quadriga at KPM. Karl Frederick Schinkel not only had a lasting influence on the architecture of classicist Prussia. The multi-talented artist was also active in the fields of interior architecture, design and painting - and achieved outstanding results in these areas.
Design for eternity
Schinkel's clear design language and his departure from the sweeping curves of the Baroque were in line with the Prussian Enlightenment. A treasure trove of models was created for KPM based on his designs, which have lost none of their significance to this day. In 1810, for example, he designed an ANTIQUE SUGAR BASKET for the Prussian Queen Luise, which, with its 2272 individual, hand-crafted cuts, is a showpiece of classicist porcelain baskets. Or the vase that has become a classic with its slim, straight vase body TROMPETENFORMwhich is harmoniously accentuated by a flared base and a protruding lip.
Would you have thought that KPM could also be found on the Brandenburg Gate ? In our long history, there are many such interesting facts that express the close connection between the manufactory and the city. For example, would you like to know why the Berlin radio tower stands on KPM porcelain stands? Have fun unraveling the next mystery!
