1902 Hermann Ohme Hand-Painted Political Satire Porcelain Cabinet Plates - Set of 4

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Description

An extraordinary, highly important find for collectors of rare turn-of-the-century European porcelain and political caricatures. This set of four fine … Read more An extraordinary, highly important find for collectors of rare turn-of-the-century European porcelain and political caricatures. This set of four fine porcelain cabinet plates, crafted on authentic Hermann Ohme blanks, features a custom, meticulously hand-painted narrative executed in a striking monochromatic iron-red palette.

Dating to circa 1902, this set stands as a profound masterpiece of underground anti-colonial political satire, subtly masking the historical events of the German Empire’s invasion of Cameroon behind the imagery of classical fables.

The Narrative Arc of the Set:

Plate I: The Iron Knight and the Silk Umbrella: Represents the peak of imperial delusion. A pompous German knight clad in heavy, rigid Prussian plate armor confidently marches along an African coastline, holding a flimsy silk umbrella aloft to shield his helmet from a tropical downpour—a sharp parody of the empire’s complete tactical unpreparedness for the terrain.

Plate II: The Ambush: The knight's march is brought to a violent halt. Out from the dense Cameroonian brush, the true apex predators of the territory—the local Bakweri forces—strike in a flawless ambush. The artist brilliantly subverts expectations, turning the "Lions of Europe" into the helpless prey.

Plate III: The Feast of Hubris: The graphic, daring climax of the set. The lions completely overwhelm the knight, physically tearing his "impenetrable" armor apart piece by piece and devouring the remnants—a radical 1902 artistic statement completely dismantling the myth of European invulnerability.

Plate IV: The Battle-Scarred Victors (The Folded Page): Framed beautifully inside a sharp square border featuring a "dog-ear" fold to resemble a page torn straight out of a history book. The final scene depicts the aftermath: the lions have successfully driven the iron invader from their lands. They have lost their teeth in the brutal struggle, but they are alive, proud, and free—a poignant reflection of the bittersweet reality of colonial resistance.

Condition:
Great antique condition. No chips, cracks, hairlines, crazing, or repairs of any kind. There is a small scratch on plate 4 (with the toothless lions). There is a small dent on plate 2 and a production defect on the back of the plate (see photos). The hand-painted red linework and glaze remain highly vibrant and glossy.

Dimensions:
Diameter: Approx. 8 inches (Each)

Maker's Mark:
Authentic underglaze crown over stylized "OH" mark on the reverse (utilized 1882–1900 by Porzellanfabrik Hermann Ohme, Niedersalzbrunn, Silesia), alongside the hand-painted inventory/pattern script/year of creation "1902." See less