Peter the Great dreamed of a factory that will produce porcelain in Russia. But only his daughter, Elizaveta Petrovna, managed to carry out this business. It was founded in 1744, and it became the first in Russia and the third in Europe. In 1837, a room was allocated to display his best designs. Later it turned into the Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory.
From the history of the plant
The constructed Nevsky porcelain factory was later renamed the Imperial Porcelain Factory (1765), and since 1917 it was already called, for short, LFZ. Dmitry Vinogradov for ten years developed a recipe for high-quality porcelain. The first production began with snuffboxes in 1750. Here, for example, is a snuffbox with an overglaze floral painting of 1760.
It is set in brass and gilded. Foreigners worked for a long time as technologists at the plant, but it was always led by Russian aristocrats. For production, Glukhovskaya clay was used, then French and English. In 1845, the Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory, which was located in the suburbs, appeared at the factory. In the twentieth century entered the city line. Now, as before, there is the Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory on the territory, whose address is: metro Lomonosovskaya, Nevsky District, Obukhovskaya Ave., 151.
Orders of Emperors Nicholas I and Alexander III
It was by decree of the emperor that a museum appeared at the factory to store samples that are worthy of making copies and carefully studying them. This is an exclusive repository of works of applied art. The Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory has been exhibiting a unique collection for two hundred and seventy years. It has 30, 000 exhibits, including a rare library, drawings and art glass.
By decree of the grandson of Nicholas I, Emperor Alexander III, all products began to be made in two copies. One went to the palace, the other to the Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory in St. Petersburg. All the leading artistic styles that dominated at one time or another, including Soviet agitation china, are presented in the exhibits available in the museum. In addition, the works of European, Chinese and Japanese masters are exhibited here. This collection in the world has no analogues.
Tipping 2000s
At the turn of the third millennium, the plant was privatized by American investors. A very acute question arose about the safety of the museum funds. They belonged to the state. The opinion that the collection should be in its historical place was expressed by Boris Piotrovsky. The Ministry of Culture listened to his statement and transferred the Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory under the supervision of the GoE. So in 2003, the Hermitage had a new department at the IPF. At this time, it was not the Americans who became the owners, but the citizens of Russia.
IFZ Products
The range consists of 7 collections. We are ready to acquaint the reader with some samples. For example, a tea pair for two persons.
It is so richly decorated that porcelain itself is not even visible. The handles are gilded, the surface inside the cup gives an inexplicably beautiful color to the tea pouring into it. The cups themselves are decorated with a rectangle in which two different flower bouquets are located. Saucers are also different. With a stroke of gold along the edge, they are inside one blue, the other red. That is, each of the tea drinkers had the opportunity to choose their favorite and always use it.
Vases
The photo above shows a vase-crater, a work of 1830. It depicts drummers from a company of palace grenadiers with overglaze painting. Polychrome vase, multicolor, gilding and matting on matte gold gives a special elegance (belt below the picture). Bronze is included in the base. Paired vases of this type are highly quoted at international auctions.
