!
PRESS RELEASE:
Auction in London: An Important Collection of Porcelain Figurines.
Private Russian Manufactories
Wednesday 25 March 2015, 10:30
MacDougall’s have the pleasure to present one of the finest
private collections of porcelain made by Russian private
manufactories. The auction to be held on the 25th March in
London will feature about 150 lots of various figurines,
including the celebrated series “The Magic Lantern” and
“Peoples of Russia”, as well as rare early examples produced by
Gardner, Popov, Kuznetsov, Terekhov and Kiselev and other
smaller factories. Attractively priced works, with
estimates varying from £1,000 to £20,000, will no doubt draw
seasoned and new collectors alike who will have a unique
opportunity to acquire some of the most interesting examples of
Russian porcelain production. The present collection is not only
one of the largest, but also most representative, important and complete private collection of
Russian porcelain figurines to come to market in recent years.
Assembled over the past 15 years, the carefully curated collection offers a valuable overview of
the fashions and popular themes of the 19th century. This comprehensive
collection is remarkable not only for its variety, but also for the outstanding
quality of represented models, their artistic and technical merits, range of
colours and undertones as well as skilful painting. In the middle of the 19th
century, such figurines enjoyed a great success at national and international
exhibitions and nowadays can be found in major private and public porcelain
collections.
The Patriotic War of 1812 stirred up powerful feelings of national pride,
which had a direct and immediate effect on the range and subject matters of
MacDougall Arts Ltd
30A Charles II Street, London SW1Y 4AE
info@macdougallauction.com
Tel.: +44-20-7389-8160 Fax: +44-20-7389-8170
VAT number: 844 064 826
Registered Company No. 5175060 in England & Wales
!
porcelain production. It was in 1818 that Gardner began manufacture of porcelain figures
representing the idealised depictions of common people: vendors, tradesmen and other lower-
class craftsmen and entrepreneurs. Sketches for these porcelain sculptures were based on
engravings by Kapiton Zelentsov taken from a popular monthly publication titled “The Magic
Lantern”. Straight away these figures became very popular and were then copied by other private
factories.
The collection also contains fine examples by Popov manufactory,
famous for its production of figures depicting haymakers, spinners,
shepherds, wanderers, which were in particular demand among common
people; and also for its series of figures of dandies, fashionistas and
pretty salesgirls. These statuettes were based on lithographs taken from
fashionable French magazines or European porcelain figures and
occupied pride of places in the homes of the wealthy Russians. Amongst
the most notable examples are the sculptural group “Pantalone e
Colombina” from commedia dell’arte, statue of a Chinese mandarin,
figure of a jester, a portrait of Abd Al Kadir and compositions depicting
children-gardeners, to name just a few.
Auction in London: An Important Collection of Porcelain Figurines. Private Russian
Manufactories.
Wednesday 25 March 2015, 10:30
Viewing Schedule:
Weekdays only 25 Feb–24 March, 11:00-18:00.
Pre-auction weekend 21–22 March, 11:00-18:00.
Address: MacDougall’s, 30A Charles II St, London SW1Y 4AE
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Catherine MacDougall, Director
at Catherine@macdougallauction.com.
MacDougall Arts Ltd
30A Charles II Street, London SW1Y 4AE
info@macdougallauction.com
Tel.: +44-20-7389-8160 Fax: +44-20-7389-8170
VAT number: 844 064 826
Registered Company No. 5175060 in England & Wales
!
Olga Vaigatcheva,
Head of Russian Works of Art, Icons and Faberge
at olga@macdougallauction.com, Tel. +44-20-7389-8160
MacDougall Arts Ltd
30A Charles II Street, London SW1Y 4AE
info@macdougallauction.com
Tel.: +44-20-7389-8160 Fax: +44-20-7389-8170
VAT number: 844 064 826
Registered Company No. 5175060 in England & Wales