Oyster Plate

Oyster Plate Dark Blue & Floral - "RS Prussia"

In recent decades antique porcelain collectors have increasingly sought after pieces bearing the celebrated Prussian mark, with the letters “RS” in red encircled by a green wreath beneath a red five-pointed star. “RS” are the initials for Reinhold Schlegelmilch, the private owner of a porcelain factory in Suhl, Germany that was founded in the late 19th century—at a time when demand for European porcelain from abroad was nearing its peak. While his factory enjoyed limited success, it was the work of his two sons, Arnold and Ehrhard that would make the mark bearing his initials famous. While Ehrhard continued to operate the factory in Suhl, Arnold went on to found a second factory in nearby Tillowitz. These two operations produced the majority of their products for export beginning in 1892 up until the beginning of World War I. During this period, most of the pieces exported to the United States bore the mark described above, with Prussia in red beneath. In 1910, the Tillowitz factory began using the all-green “RS Germany” mark, and miraculously continued producing fine China through the Second World War. The original factory in Suhl closed down before the First World War ended. “RS Prussia” porcelain is known both for the complexity of its molds and for the beauty of the patterns, most of which were applied using floral transfers. Many of the pieces also bear some degree of hand decoration, such as gold gilding or embellishments like thick enameling to give the floral prints texture. The variety of glazes applied at the RS factory is also significant. Depending on the particular finishing materials used, RS pieces may bear a glossy, iridescent, luster or matte surface appearance. Pieces bearing both the “RS Prussia” and the “RS Germany” mark can be found among the Rarest Treasures collection. Depending on when they were produced, the qualities of these items may be almost indistinguishable. It is generally understood, however, that the pieces produced at the Tillowitz factory bearing the “RS Germany” mark throughout the years tended to simpler molds and more subtle decoration. In the 1920’s, some of the Tillowitz pieces began reflecting growing preferences in both the United States and Europe for “art deco” or modern art involving solid colors and geometric shapes. It should also be mentioned that more “blanks” were produced at the Tillowitz factory, and were shipped abroad for decorating. The Pickard mark is the most common one to be found on “RS Germany” blanks, which was a highly successful decorating studio established in 1894 in Illinois.