Chinese porcelain has always been known for its extraordinary beauty, and it is light and durable. Russian ceramic vessels, which are also widely known around the world, are not inferior in quality, although they are very different from Chinese porcelain styles. In this article, you will learn why Russian porcelain is so unique and how it differs from Chinese porcelain.
Almost every country has its own history of pottery. In China, it originated in 2000 BC and boasts a high level of craftsmanship, as evidenced by the invention of porcelain. Pottery in Russia originated in prehistoric times, and during archaeological excavations, archaeologists found various pots, jugs, pans, sinks, and other handmade utensils. In Russia, the popularity of porcelain is thought to have been driven by Peter I. In 1712 he visited the residence of King Oranienburg of Prussia, visited two rooms decorated in the "Chinese style" there, and was deeply interested in what he saw and heard. At his direction, The "Chinese Room" of Montplecier was built and porcelain was purchased for the first time.
The main difference between Chinese and Russian porcelain is its composition: Russian porcelain contains more kaolin and therefore requires a higher firing temperature. In this case, the porcelain appears more transparent. However, due to the large thermal effect, all the paint except the blue color will be burned. That's why Russian porcelain is colored on the surface of the glaze. In addition, Russian porcelain is not so thin, so it is more durable and can be used as an everyday tableware.
The history of Russian porcelain production dates back to 1744. This was the date the Royal Porcelain Factory was founded, which was renamed several times before finally restoring its original name in 2005. The founder of Russian porcelain was Dmitry Vinogradov, who developed real porcelain in 1748 based on Gzhel clay. Production of this porcelain began in 1753 at the Royal Factory. They paid special attention to the manufacture of vases and the exquisite decoration of the royal palace. For centuries, the Royal Porcelain Factory has been providing exclusive interior porcelain and lavish ceremonial decoration services to the Imperial Palace, the residences of Soviet leaders and the leaders of modern Russia. The products here were given as exquisite diplomatic gifts to monarchs and foreign heads of state. Today, the Royal Porcelain Factory has continued and enhanced its century-old history while retaining its unique techniques, hand-painted techniques and the noble style of its own art school.
Thanks to the production of high-quality porcelain, the Royal Porcelain Factory is world-famous, with its products exhibited at the Hermitage, the Moscow History Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and more. Today, the factory's catalogue includes more than 4,000 products in various forms, all available for purchase in Moscow. There are also several independent companies, which are the factories of Gardner, Popov and Kuznetsov.
Today's Gardner factory is called "The Porcelain of Verbilki", and it is located in the village of Verbilki near Moscow. The porcelain of Väbirki is a legendary porcelain production plant, founded in 1766, the first private porcelain production plant in Russia. Since the end of the 18th century, the Gardner factory in Verbiki has provided several services to Elizabeth II and has been granted the privilege of painting the Moscow coat of arms on its plates.
Kuznetsov's factory, called the Dulevo Porcelain Factory, is located in the city of Likino-Dulyovo in the Orekhovo-Zuevo district of the Moscow region. It is the largest russian company that produces ceramic tableware, sculptures and souvenir gifts. The Durevé Porcelain Factory was founded in 1832 by Terenty Kuznetsov, who decided to establish a large-scale porcelain production base. 20 years later, he led the factory to become a leading company in Russia. The factory's porcelain is known for its simplicity and nobility – the dazzling white color is contrasted with the precious gilded, and the saturated glazed luster complements it. In the paintings on the products, the emphasis was placed on originality, folk art, national characteristics and traditions, from which the unique Dulivo style "pottery" was born. In 1902, Kuznetsov was added to the honorary list of royal suppliers. To realize his plan, he invited well-known artists to participate in the work, including the famous Russian artist Vrubel.
In addition to the Kuznetsov factory, there is also a well-known Popov factory. Here they not only made tableware, but also exquisite figurines, which are still on display in the museum today. The porcelain of the Popov factory has its own exclusive recipe that can easily compete with other porcelain factories in Russia. The business is run by the inventor of the specialty coating Popov and his son, whose factory is located in the suburbs. Their plate products are made for a wide range of users, most of which are used for catering. The company opened its own laboratory for the manufacture of porcelain coatings, the only porcelain coatings laboratory in Russia, and has a rare color scheme. Unfortunately, the plant had to close in 1865. Today, collectors are working to find and collect the factory's products.
In the 1920s, much of the private collection of porcelain, including suits and personal objects, was nationalized and handed over to the State Museum. Today, you can still see porcelain, pottery and glasswork from famous Russian manufacturers in the museum. Covers table utensils, tea and coffee makers, porcelain, decorative porcelain, figurines, etc. Tableware, utensils and interior porcelain – all of these can be precisely divided into individual applied arts and are widely welcomed by customers of all ages.
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