KPM Porcelain Plaque, ca. 1900
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GUEST:
Its name is "Ruth," and she's been in my family for the last 68 years, anyway. I think my grandmother had it in 1918 or 1920. It's been passed down through my family to my mother and then to me.
APPRAISER:
Well, it's a lovely size. And first of all, the size is tremendously appealing for people that do collect these types of plaques. It's made in Berlin by K.P.M., Keramic Porcelain Manufactur. It's also an artist-signed example of Ruth, which is hand-painted. Down in the corner here...
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
Is "R. Dittrich."
GUEST:
Right.
APPRAISER:
It's a very pretty subject. And really what makes these sell well is how attractive the female is. They make male subjects. There are biblical subjects. There are small and large ones but it's how attractive the female is, believe it or not, that will make it sell. Now it's in wonderful, wonderful condition. And I 'm just going to turn it over so that we can have a chance to look at the marks on the back. It does have her name, also the artist's name here. And that he was an Austrian painter. But in addition to that it does have the impressed K.P.M. mark. And it's really the K.P.M. mark that will push it to the next level of collectability. Very, very desirable, not just nationally but internationally.
GUEST:
Oh, really?
APPRAISER:
Examples like this-- again, in this size, in this condition-- in an auction, I would imagine should probably bring in the $5,000 to $7,000 range.
GUEST:
Really?
APPRAISER:
Yes.
GUEST:
Wow.
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