RARE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL PORCELAIN GARDNER DUCK FIGURINE, 1800's, Marked
Antique Imperial Russian painted biscuit porcelain figurine of a duck, produced by the Gardner Porcelain Factory, circa 1850-1870. The figurine portrays a gray ring-necked duck in the act of feeding, set on a naturalistic oval base adorned with molded and painted grasses. The bird features intricate molded webbed feet. The underside bears the impressed name 'Gardner' in Cyrillic capitals, along with 'St. George' similarly impressed. Additionally, there is either the number '2' or the letter 'Z' within the paste and '105' in brown overglaze on the outer edge of the foot.
CONDITION: Very good condition for its age. The item is described to the best of our knowledge. For further information, please refer to the pictures and feel free to contact us via email with any questions.
PROVENANCE: 1. From private old collection, New York, USA, 1958-2019; 2. eBay, USA, February 02, 2019, Lot 162802290862 (the winner will receive this information); 3. Our sale of this item adds another layer of provenance. History of sale is very IMPORTANT for serious collection.
DIMENSIONS: 2 x 3 1/2 inches (5.1 x 8.9 cm).
REFERENCE: For an identical figure see: Porcelain in Russian 18th-19th centuries. The Gardner Factory, State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, 2003.
ESTIMATED PRICE: $700 - $2,000 (significantly lower than today's market price). You have a GREAT CHANCE to purchase a rare item for your collection, and over the years, its price will only INCREASE.
HISTORY of SALES: A few years ago, Gardner's Porcelain Figurine of birds were sold on Live Auctioneers for $1,000 (3 years ago), and $1,600 (3 years ago) - please refer to the screenshots for details. Today, prices have significantly increased compared to those of 5-10 years ago.
WARRANTY: The buyer has 7 days to inspect items valued at up to $5,000 and 15 days for items valued at $5,000 or more. Items can be returned to the seller for a refund; please refer to the Terms for more details.
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HISTORY: Gardner Factory Russian Porcelain founded at Verbilki, near Moscow, by the Englishman Francis Gardner in 1766+B11, 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.

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