Spiritual KPM Plaque of Biblical “Ruth”, Hand-Painted Porcelain Plaque by Franz Till of Dresden, Circa 1900

KPM hand painted porcelain plaque with spiritual subject matter depicting the Old Testament biblical figure of “Ruth” in a field with an “ocean” horizon line. Ethereal beauty and tranquility, painted masterfully showing her physicality beneath a simple shift and head scarf that is diaphanous and loans itself to a heavenly reference with the earthly contrast of the wheat sheaf under her left arm. She holds a direct gaze with the viewer and stands in front of a subdued sunrise over the water in the background.

The original painting, by Charles Landelle (1821-1908), was painted in 1886 and is held in the Shipley Art Gallery in Gateshead. Landelle was a French painter, best known for his Orientalist works.

KPM had an entire department in the 19th century dedicated to copying “Old master ” & German paintings onto porcelain and these would become extremely popular, high quality, ceramic paintings among the growing consumer class. The bigger the plaque, the more technically complex it was to produce, and so the more valuable it was. Franz Till worked for KPM and specialized in portrait painting on porcelain.

This plaque is quite large and inscribed to the reverse with KPM marks and stamped “Franz Till Dresden” . The carved layers of the gilt wood frame are in very good condition and have substantial depth and exquisite detail. The velvet matt is worn and understandably original.

Dimensions: Visible Image: height 9.0″ x width 5.75″  Frame: height 15.5″ x width 12.25″ x depth 2.5″