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Soviet Ceramics: Home
This is a site about Soviet Ceramics, and in particular Soviet porcelain figurines. It is a place to share information about Soviet Porcelain marks, figures, prices etc.
I am going to start building this site with help from a few friends and gradually we hope it will grow to include everyone who has an interest and wants to be included.
It is not my plan to create something cliquey or exclusive. It is my aim to create a knowledge base on Soviet Porcelain that we can all share in building and from which we can all benefit.
The term 'Soviet Porcelain' is used here to cover Soviet Ceramics in general (not just a porcelain body, but also bone china and softer bodies such as earthenwares). It covers ceramics made in all former states of the Soviet Union from the time of the abdication of the last Tsar, Nicolas 11, in 1917, until the end of the Communist regime in Russia, in 1991.
The products are usually divided into three phases; the first period ceramic production being from the time of the October Revolution in 1917 up to about 1925.
This coincides with the first period of post Imperialism and the initial years of Communist rule. After the abandonment of the Russian Empire and Tsar Nicolas 11's abdication and subsequent execution, came the period of the Provisional Government. This regime lasted from 1917 until power was taken by the Soviet under the leadership of Vladimir Ilyitch Lenin. Lenin led the Soviet Union from its inception in 1922 until failing health forced him to step down in 1924.
So the first period covers these early post-Imperial years, but is also considered to cover some pre -revolutionary productions.
These are figures of peasants (many made by the Gardener factory) and figures representing the different peoples of the Soviet Union. The Tsarina Catherine had commissioned such folk figures to be manufactured as table decorations at Royal banquets and when the Communists ruled, production of some of these models continued.
In some cases the sculptures were remodelled on a smaller scale; or moulds were made from the originals when the new models would be about a third smaller; clay shrinking in the firing process. In other cases original sculptures were created on traditional themes.
The theme of celebrating the many and varied peoples of the Russian countries suited both the Imperial courts and the subsequent proletariat regime.
The second period of Soviet ceramics runs from 1925/30 to the mid 1950s and as such roughly coincides with the Stalin era.
The third period covers ceramic production in Post Stalin Communist USSR; from around 1953 to the end of the Communist regime in 1991.
This third period of production also includes a few later examples, which are, strictly speaking post Soviet, but which, due to subject matter, can logically be included as Soviet ceramics. One of these is the figure called 'Boss' which was produced in very limited numbers right at the end of the life of the Kiev factory.
It is an original sculpture by a former Soviet master which comments on and responds to the new post Communist era. As such it is a sought after item for most serious collectors of Soviet ceramics.
Another figure made post USSR which would be included in a representative collection is the small figure of the Ukrainian prime minister, Viktor Yanukovych, sporting a miner's helmet and boxing gloves. This is a political cartoon in ceramic. It was created in the true tradition of Soviet propaganda porcelain, though in 2004, as a comment on the 'Orange Revolution' in Ukraine.
The miners and most of Eastern Ukraine (where there are many Ukrainians, of Russian extraction), supported the Prime Minisiter at the 2004/2005 elections. The opposition leader, Viktor Yuschenko, had the support of the USA, Western media and much of Western Ukraine. His party colour was orange.
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