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In 1967 Christie’s chairman, Peter Chance, travelled to Moscow as part of a delegation from the London Chamber of Commerce. As the result of his visit, the Soviet government instructed Christie’s to sell an important Kremlin dinner service consisting of 1,742 pieces, which were split into 28 lots. The present selection of plates, tazzas and platters was part of that historical auction, and were purchased by the parents of the current owner. The Kremlin service, commissioned by Emperor Nicholas I in 1836 from the Imperial Porcelain Factory, was used at coronations, diplomatic soirées and regular banquets for army cadets at the Great Kremlin Palace. Further additions to the service were made throughout 19th century and early 20th century. The design of this magnificent service was entrusted to the painter and archaeologist Fyodor Solntsev, who was inspired by various motifs from medieval Russian artworks. For example, the dessert plates are based on the design of an enamelled gold plate made by the Kremlin workshops in 1667 for Tsar Aleksey Mikhailovich. The source for the platters was the interior of a jewelled tazza made for Tsaritsa Natalia Kirilovna in mid-17th century. For further information regarding the Kremlin service see N.B. von Wolf (ed. V.V. Znamenov), Imperatorskii farforovyi zavod, 1744-1904, St Petersburg, 2008, pp. 422-423.
SIXTEEN PORCELAIN DINNER PLATES FROM THE KREMLIN SERVICE
BY THE IMPERIAL PORCELAIN FACTORY, ST PETERSBURG, PERIOD OF NICHOLAS I (1825-1855)
Details
SIXTEEN PORCELAIN DINNER PLATES FROM THE KREMLIN SERVICE
BY THE IMPERIAL PORCELAIN FACTORY, ST PETERSBURG, PERIOD OF NICHOLAS I (1825-1855)
Circular, each centre painted with a medallion of scrolling foliage and stylised flowerheads in red, green and blue on a black ground, within a band of green palmettes on a gilt ciselé ground, the gilt rim painted in red and green to simulate jewels, marked under bases with underglaze blue factory marks, some also with inscribed or incised numerals; all with red palace inventory numbers
9 3/8 in. (23.8 cm.) diameter
BY THE IMPERIAL PORCELAIN FACTORY, ST PETERSBURG, PERIOD OF NICHOLAS I (1825-1855)
Circular, each centre painted with a medallion of scrolling foliage and stylised flowerheads in red, green and blue on a black ground, within a band of green palmettes on a gilt ciselé ground, the gilt rim painted in red and green to simulate jewels, marked under bases with underglaze blue factory marks, some also with inscribed or incised numerals; all with red palace inventory numbers
9 3/8 in. (23.8 cm.) diameter
Provenance
The Kremlin Palace.
'Magnificent Imperial Russian Banqueting Services'; Christie’s, London, 21 March 1967, lot 28 (part).
Acquired at the above sale by the parents of the present owner.
'Magnificent Imperial Russian Banqueting Services'; Christie’s, London, 21 March 1967, lot 28 (part).
Acquired at the above sale by the parents of the present owner.
Brought to you by
Alexis de Tiesenhausen