Porcelain Figurines
Why Soviet/Russian/Ukrainian ornamental figurines? I have memories of visiting my grandmother's circle of friends as a child. Many of these households possessed a figurine or two--enough to stoke my imagination and acquisitive desires. My mother could not have been less interested, and as these were quite expensive (not least from my child's viewpoint), I never got to own even one for myself until I was an adult. My sentimental interest is in two porcelain-makers who survived through the Soviet era: Polonne (Ukrainian) and Lomonosov (Russian).
That said--who am I to pretend? There is something in these figurines that appeals to me. Not least--the way the information appears on the internet--scattered, unrefined, poorly footnoted. The full picture of Soviet ceramics--it's not yet clear.
That said--who am I to pretend? There is something in these figurines that appeals to me. Not least--the way the information appears on the internet--scattered, unrefined, poorly footnoted. The full picture of Soviet ceramics--it's not yet clear.
Other Soviet Era Porcelain Makers
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Chinese Geese
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The Verbilki factories, Dmitrov.
Developed by English merchant Francis Gardner in 1766. Searching for the suitable location for his new manufacturing enterprise, Gardner chose the Village of Verbiltsy (now Verbilki), north of Moscow. This location provided several benefits for porcelain production, which included the existence of large clay deposits in the area, as well as its relative proximity to Moscow. Through the years, Gardner’s Verbilki plant became the most respected and famous of all Russian porcelain producers. One of the greatest moments in the company’s history occurred between 1778 and 1783, when it was chosen to create four porcelain tableware sets for Catherine the Great. Gardner’s plant then became the official supplier of all porcelain to the Russian Court. As the years went by, the company experienced many changes, being sold to another wealthy porcelain producer, Matvey Kuznetsov, in 1891 and being taken over by the Soviet regime after the October Revolution yet, still being awarded a gold medal at the 1937 World's Fair in Paris and a silver medal at the 1958 World's Fair in Brussels. Despite its tumultuous history, the plant still survives. (Mikhail Kholodov) |
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Gorodnitska Porcelain Factory (also Gorodnitsky or Horodnystya Porcelain Factory) was an industrial enterprise in the urban-type settlement of Horodnystya in the Zhitomir region in Ukraine. It was renowned for its confident, graceful, forms and delicate glazes.
History Gorodnistka was founded in 1799 as a porcelain factory in the village of Horodnystya Novohrad-Volyn, county of Volyn province, built by the princes of Czartoryski. It was nationalized after the October Revolution of 1917. During the revolution, the plant suffered, then, after the end of hostilities, and together with other enterprises of the glass and faience industry, it was transferred to the Main Committee of the Glass and Porcelain Industry of the Supreme Council of National Economy, restored and resumed work under the name Gorodnitsky Porcelain Factory. During the industrialization of the 1930s, the enterprise began to be re-equipped. During the fighting of the Great Patriotic War and the German occupation, the plant was put out of action and half-destroyed, but after the war, in accordance with the fourth five-year plan for the restoration and development of the national economy of the USSR, it was restored and re-commissioned. In the post-war period, the plant developed in cooperation with the Leningrad All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Porcelain and Faience Industry, new technologies were introduced into the production processes. In Soviet times, the plant was one of the leading enterprises of the porcelain and faience industry of the USSR and the main enterprise of the Gorodnitsa, on the balance of the enterprise there were social infrastructure facilities. As of the beginning of 1980, the factory specialized in making tea sets, tableware and small sculptures. The plant's products were exported, and artwork by several Gorodnitska masters was exhibited at all-Union international exhibitions. After the proclamation of Ukraine's independence in 1991, the state plant was transformed into a collective enterprise. In July 2008 the enterprise stopped work. The attempt to attract investors from Italy to the restoration of the plant was unsuccessful. In January 2010, bankruptcy proceedings began. As of early February 2011, the plant did not function. Historical Gorodnitska had held on to its artistic achievements all through the hardships of two wars and the Soviet Regime, only to founder as freedom once more returned to the Ukrainian nation. |
Roe Deer
Fox & Crane
Squirrel with Nut
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Shepherd Dog
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Grey & White Goose
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