An important Berlin part armorial service circa 1817

from the service for General Friedrich Graf Kleist von Nollendorf (1762-1823), painted in the centre with the Iron Cross, the rim surmounted by the arms within an oval medallion against a border of oak leaves tied with black and orange ribbons on a salmon-pink ground, edged with a formal gilt border, comprising:

thirty-five plates (24.8cm., 9 3/4 in.)
eleven smaller plates (23.1cm., 9 1/8 in.)
two deep circular dishes (26.7cm., 10 1/2 in.)
two octagonal dishes (23.2cm., 9 1/8 in.)
two large oval dishes (44cm., 17 1/4 in.)

Following the end of the Napoleonic wars, King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia decided to present a porcelain table service each to the most important generals. An order of 5th October 1815 to the Minister of War stated: 'Des Königs Majestät haben die Absicht, dem Prinzen August von Preußen, dem Prinzen Wilhelm von Preußen (Bruder Seiner Majestät), dem Prinzen von Hessen Homburg und den Generälen Grafen Yorck von Wartenburg, Grafen Tauentzien und Grafen Kleist von Nollendorf, jedem ein porzellanenes Tafelgeschirr zum Präsent zu machen. Alle diese Service würden des Gebers und des Empfängers würdig und von solcher Beschaffenheit sein müssen, daß der Allerhöchsten Absicht, den gedachten Prinzen und Generälen Allerhöchst Dero Erkenntlichkeit zu beweisen auf eine angemessene Weise entsprächen...

[His Majesty the King has the intention of presenting a porcelain table service to Prince August of Prussia, Prince Wilhelm of Prussia (His Majesty's brother), the Prince of Hessen-Homburg and the generals Count Yorck von Wartenburg, Count Tauentzien and Count Kleist von Nollendorf. All these services would be worthy of the giver and the recipients and would have to be of such quality that they be commensurate with His Majesty's intention to demonstrate His Majesty's gratitude to the said princes and generals.]

The King was personally involved in selecting the design for each of the recipients, and the service for General Friedrich Count Kleist von Nollendorf was delivered in November 1817. The four generals were particularly honoured by the King, in that they received their services before the Princes August and Wilhelm. Moreover, at the express order of the King, the later services for the Princes did not include a table centrepiece, "thereby to honour the commanding generals, that only they receive a service with centrepiece" (quoted by W. & I. Baer, 'Das Tafelservice der KPM für den Herzog von Wellington 1817-19', exhibition catalogue, Schloss Charlottenburg, Berlin 1988, p.14).