WW2 “Schönheit der Arbeit” Deep Soup Plate – Hutschenreuther Selb Bavaria – 23.5 cm – Model des Amtes

This is an original WW2 Schönheit der Arbeit (SdA) deep soup plate, produced by the prestigious Hutschenreuther Selb Bavaria porcelain factory. With a diameter of 23.5 cm , this plate is part of a rare category of SdA-issued tableware that was used in selected DAF-regulated workplaces and factory canteens.

Official SdA Cogwheel Marking

The underside features the classic SdA emblem:

• Cogwheel with swastika
• “Modell des Amtes – Beauty of Work”
• Hutschenreuther Selb Bavaria lion crest

This stamp indicates that the plate was inspected, approved, and standardized under the SdA's workplace-improvement initiative. Items with this marking were produced in far smaller quantities than RAD, Wehrmacht, or Luftwaffe tableware — making them significantly rarer today.

Design Features

• Diameter: 23.5 cm
• Deep soup plate form, used in workplace dining halls
• Subtle blue line around the rim, typical of SdA's clean and modern design language
• Strong glaze with period-appropriate wear
• No structural damage
• Excellent clear markings

Unlike some institution-specific variants, this plate represents the standard, official SdA canteen style , making it extremely representative and desirable for collectors.

Historical Importance

Schönheit der Arbeit (Beauty of Labor) was part of the Deutsche Arbeitsfront and focused on improving hygiene, lighting, ergonomics, and aesthetics in German workplaces. Dining facilities were central to this effort, and special tableware such as this soup plate was produced to reflect modern standards of order and cleanliness.

Because SdA projects existed in limited numbers, only a fraction of wartime tableware carries this marking. Most pieces were lost or destroyed after the war, making surviving examples highly collectible.