lomonosov porcelain

Lomonosov Porcelain

lomonosov porcelain

It seems that everyone is crazy for Russian porcelain at the moment, especially the curvy, almost stylised animals with minimal detail and a shape that's good to hold.

Collector's fairs normally have at least one stall devoted to these beautiful ceramics, often many more.

The Lomonosov Porcelain Factory was founded in 1744, in St Petersburg, initially to make fine porcelain for the Russian Royal Family.

It supplied other European Royal families too, and underwent




 several changes of name before settling on its present title.

In the eighteenth century, during the reign of Catherine the Great, the institution was known as The Imperial Porcelain Factory.

After the Revolution, it became the State Porcelain Works, and later was named Lomonosov after the founder of the Russian Academy of Science.

The range of ceramics produced over the past 255 years is tremendous and includes vases, plates, dinner services, snuff boxes and numerous figurines.

lomonosov porcelain

Most new collectors are likely to encounter the animal pieces at first.

These are beautiful and varied, ranging from small models ideal for grouping on a narrow shelf to large, substantial sculptures perfect for a focal point in a room.

With creatures such as tigers, dogs, birds, zebras, rabbits, cats, fish, raccoons, squirrels, foxes, badgers, mammoths, chipmunks, giraffes and bears, there's something for everyone.

The brown bears have a charm all of 




their own, and many Lomonosov collectors say that their very first piece was a bear.

Of course, bears play a great part in traditional Russian history and folklore, and the Lomonosov kind vary from cuddly cubs to fearsome sharp-toothed beasts.

lomonosov porcelain

It's easy to start a collection today because prices are very reasonable for the commoner pieces, and the factory is still in production.

At the recent 'Collect 99' fair, new Lomonosov brown bear cubs were selling for just £5 each.

In the 1980s, the USSR was undergoing much internal strife. For a while the importation of Russian ceramics was erratic. Prices soared as dealers thought they were sitting on treasure-troves, and extremely common pieces appeared at antique fairs at 'silly money' prices.

Then, in the 1990s, the wares appeared in shops once more, but the backstamp had changed, and the animals and figurines were now marked Russia instead of USSR.

Several of the smaller pieces cost under £10, and so youngsters looking for something attractive on which to spend their pocket money might well enjoy starting a collection of Lomonosov porcelain.

lomonosov porcelain

Many collectors, however, prefer to obtain items with the older USSR backstamp, and now that prices have stabilised it's possible to buy some of the more common pieces for little more than the price of a new, i.e. 'Russia' mark.

A recent trip to an antique centre found plenty of earlier pieces, including a hare for £8, a lion cub for £15 and a large dog for £20.

The typical lomonosov porcelain   IS smooth, rounded sculptures are justly popular.

lomonosov porcelain

For instance, the tiger cub, five inches tall, is a warm, gold-brown, with the black stripes boldly painted, and excellent detailing of eyes, claws and muzzle spots, while the sleek, shapely wildcat, with flattened ears and narrowed eyes is a masterpiece of design.

Painted warm grey, with white, black and ginger markings, he sits upright with his tail curved around his body.

lomonosov porcelain

A frequently found piece is standing bear cub. Six inches high, he has his front paws I crossed in front, and his head tilted as though he's slightly apprehensive.

Dark brown, with lighter brown highlights, and finished in a glossy glaze, he is very appealing.

lomonosov porcelain

Many of the older pieces have a special enchantment, as for instance an unusual design of inkwell featuring two bear cubs eating a bowl of berries. One cub is greedily tipping the berries into his mouth, the other is impatiently waving a spoon as he waits for his turn. Between them is a tree-stump table, with L another spoon on top.

lomonosov porcelain

That spoon forms a handle, enabling the table top to be lifted off. Under neath is a small pot to hold the ink.

This charming inkwell will probably cost you around £100 or so. Another equally attractive item is the she bear with cubs, a vigorous sculpture depicting a seated bear, paws held protectively over a cradle containing twin cubs draped in an orange-red coverlet.

A much rarer piece is the goat with the little kids, which, like many other

lomonosov porcelain

Lomonosov figurines, depicts a Russian folk tale. In white porcelain, with red, green and gold embellishments, this is a very delicate model as the horns, ears and spindly legs are prone to breakage. Consequently, it's important to check thoroughly before you buy.

As with other desirable ceramics, fakes sometimes surface.

It's possible for an unscrupulous dealer to pass a new piece off as old, because the backstamps wash off easily. Also, if the 'R' and 'A' are removed in the word 'RUSSIA', the resulting word reads like an unclear USSR - but most dealers are honest, and providing you get a descriptive receipt when you buy, there should be no problems.

Lomonosov is the largest and, perhaps, best known of the Russian porcelain companies, but there are many others, including Kiev, Polonye,Kanakova, Dulevo and Gzhel.

The latter is particularly famed for its cobalt-blue and white figurines, which, like Lomonosov, can be obtained in Britain at very reasonable prices.

The field of Soviet ceramics is vast, and a short article can barely scratch the surface.

There are thousands of beautiful treasures, not only animals, but many other items, often painted in the exquisite, rich glowing colours beloved by the Russian people.

lomonosov porcelain    

Hopefully, more porcelain, not only by Lomonosov but also by other USSR companies,will be featured in a future article.

If you would like to find out more about Soviet collectables, contact The Soviet Collectors Club, PO Box 56, Saltbum-by-the-Sea, TS12 1YD.

Next time you're browsing 




around your local antiques 


market, take a look at the Lomonosov porcelain  admire the modelling, 


feel the quality.

And no doubt you too will be smitten by these gorgeous figurines.