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CHINESE EXPORT PORCELAIN ORDERED BY THE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL COURT (Lots 174-177)Three Chinese export porcelain orders, each enameled with the Imperial coat-of-arms, were made for the Russian court in the 18th century. The first, dating to circa 1720, was a set of apothecary jars ordered for Emperor Peter the Great, and the second, circa 1740, was a set dishes made for Empress Elizabeth, but evidently appreciated and used by Empress Catherine the Great - an avid porcelain collector - at the Winter Palace, main residence of the Imperial family from 1732. The third was a large dinner service ordered by Catherine about 1785 in the then-fashionable neoclassical style, not unlike her famous Wedgwood 'frog' service. Most known plates from the Empress Elizabeth service bear the inventory marks in red of the Court Chamberlain's Office at The Winter Palace.Empress Catherine promoted the Chinese overland tea trade with Russia throughout her reign. Tea had arrived in Russia in the late 17th century, but under Peter the Great its restricted importation had made it a very expensive luxury. For further detail on the Russian orders, see T. B. Arapova, 'The double-headed eagle on Chinese porcelain', Apollo, January 1992, pp. 21-23.
A RARE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL ARMORIAL PLATE
QIANLONG PERIOD, CIRCA 1740
Details
A RARE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL ARMORIAL PLATE
QIANLONG PERIOD, CIRCA 1740
With a large Imperial coat-of-arms, the reverse marked in red enamel with an inventory number and Cyrillic initial for the WInter Palace
9 in. (22.8 cm.) diameter
QIANLONG PERIOD, CIRCA 1740
With a large Imperial coat-of-arms, the reverse marked in red enamel with an inventory number and Cyrillic initial for the WInter Palace
9 in. (22.8 cm.) diameter