A Porcelain Plate from the Grand Duke Paul Petrovich Service, Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur, Berlin, circa 1778

of circular shape with scalloped border, the center painted with a black double-headed eagle holding two shields, one painted with the armorials of the Russian empire, the other with the armorials of Holstein-Gottorp.

Gift of King Friedrich II of Prussia to Grand Duke Paul Petrovich, 1778
Possibly part of a group of 58 items sold by the Soviet government through Antikvariat, 1930
Sotheby's London, December 15, 1995, lot 519, illustrated

overall good condition
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Frederick the Great of Prussia presented the so-called Berlin service to Grand Duke Paul of Russia (later Emperor Paul I) whose father, Peter III, was Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp. The service was one of several important and luxurious diplomatic gifts of Berlin porcelain to the heir to the throne, in recognition of the favor he had already shown Prussia and in hopes of mutually advantageous future relations. On the service, see N. Kazakevich, Zapadnoevropeiskii farfor v Ermitazhe. Istoriia sobraniia, St. Petersburg, 2003, pp. 145-147 and Shedevry russkogo farfora XVIII veka iz sobraniia galerei "Popov i Ko.," Moscow, 2009, pp. 332-333.