KPM Urbino dinnerware range

Defining Clarity – The Urbino Porcelain Collection by KPM

Form and function in perfect balance: the Urbino collection by KPM is a crowning classic of modernist design for timeless table settings. Designed by Trude Petri in 1931, its reduced, rounded forms remain a compelling example of German porcelain craftmanship. At Artedona, discover a milestone of early modernism in all its variety, handmade at the Royal Porcelain Manufactory Berlin.

Radical Purity – The History of the Urbino Collection

Designer Trude Petri joined KPM in 1929. Influenced by the formal language of the "Bauhaus" movement and the ideas of the "Deutscher Werkbund" artist association, she pursued a design approach that removed everything superfluous and allowed pure form to come to the fore. Within two years, she developed the Urbino collection: a service conceived from the circle and the sphere, without decoration and in deliberate contrast to the opulence of the Art Deco style that shaped the period. With this radical clarity, Urbino became an icon of New Objectivity.

Trude Petri found inspiration in Chinese rice bowls and the Italian Renaissance. The majolica wares from the city of Urbino played a particularly important role in her design. These richly painted ceramics often featured narrative scenes in the istoriato style, spreading across the entire surface. To give the paintings as much space as possible, many pieces did away with broad rims and instead used gently rounded, uninterrupted surfaces. Petri recognised in them a design idea of timeless modernity: the coupe form, which became one of the defining features of the Urbino collection.

With rimless plates, flowing surfaces and a deliberate absence of ornament, Urbino set a new benchmark in porcelain design. Trude Petri translated historical references into a purist design language that still feels contemporary today. The coupe plate became a modern archetype and entered the standard design vocabulary of contemporary tableware. Urbino also received international recognition early on: the collection was awarded the gold medal at the VI Triennale in Milan and the Grand Prix at the Paris World Exhibition in 1937. Today, it is regarded as the epitome of timeless porcelain design and is represented as a permanent exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Universal Elegance – The Urbino Variants

• Urbino White: The minimalist classic of the collection. In pure white, Urbino shows the strength of its clear form to especially striking effect. The extensive selection ranges from plates, cups and bowls to serving pieces such as cake stands, platters and serving bowls, all of which can be combined in many ways.
• Urbino Canto: A hand-painted black line accentuates the balanced forms of the collection and adds a subtle graphic note. The reduced design gains contrast and presence while retaining its calm elegance.
• Urbino Platinum Edition: The platinum-finished version plays with light, reflection, and the appealing contrast to the purist form. Artedona’s selection includes the collection’s breakfast cups, an elegant gift idea that turns every coffee break into a refined moment.
• Urbino Multicolore: Rich colours meet delicate borders of 24-carat gold. This colourful variant preserves Urbino’s clear design language while bringing vibrant accents to the modern table.