GARDNER - RARE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL PORCELAIN FIGURINE, 19th CENTURY
This is a naturalistic porcelain figurine depicting a peasant crafting traditional bark shoes (bast shoes). The figurine exhibits skillful execution and meticulous painting. It bears a red oval stamp on the base, which reads 'A GARDNER FACTORY in Moscow' in Russian, placed under a two-headed crowned eagle, along with the number '22' and another mark bearing the inscription 'GARDNER' in Russian.
The renowned Gardner factory was widely regarded as the finest porcelain enterprise in the Russian Empire. Figurines like these, depicting scenes from peasant life, were highly popular during the 19th century. Below, we've included a biography of Gardner.
CONDITION: Very good condition for its age. For further information, please refer to the pictures and feel free to contact us via email with any questions.
DIMENSIONS: H. 5 1/2 inches (13.9 cm).
REFERENCE: For an identical figure see: Porcelain in Russian 18th-19th centuries, The Gardner Factory, State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, 2003.
ESTIMATE PRICE: $2,000 - $4,000.
HISTORY of SALES: A few years ago, Gardner's Porcelain Figures were sold on Live Auctioneers for $9,000 (2 years ago), $10,000 (3 years ago), $12,000 (3 years ago), and $14,000 (11 years ago) - please refer to the screenshots for details.
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HISTORY: Gardner Factory Russian Porcelain founded at Verbilki, near Moscow, by the Englishman Francis Gardner in 1766, and known for its hard paste porcelains, the Gardner factory served as important competition for the Imperial Porcelain Factory, spurring artists at both institutions to produce more complicated wares in terms of both form and decoration. One of two porcelain works in Russia during the 18th century, The factory was situated in the Gjelsk region where local clay, which proved suitable for porcelain, could be used. Gardner started with a German manager called Gattenberg, who later joined the Imperial Factory, and he employed a well-known German painter, Kestner. But these and other foreigners taught many Russian craftsmen, principally serfs, who gradually replaced them, as soon as they had mastered the various techniques; so that the number of foreigners employed in key positions steadily diminished in course of time. The factory was operated by the family for three generations until 1891, when it was taken over by Kusnetzoff. The Gardner Factory made lesser quality wares for export and higher quality pieces for the capital trade. In 1777 the Empress Catherine teh Great commissioned the Gardner Factory to produce four dessert services for the receptions held in the Winter Palace. Each service included plates, round and long leaf-shaped dishes, baskets of various sizes for fruit, and a variety of ice cups. Among its other notable works were colored figurines of Russian subjects in unglazed biscuit porcelain.

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