A rare and fine Soviet porcelain figure of a young girl, Natalia Danko, State Porcelain Manufactory, 1923

painted by Elena Danko, the girl depicted seated, wearing a low-cut patterned dress and headscarf, holding a flower, roses moulded in relief to the base, with green and black manufactory marks, dated 1923, artist cypher, No. 446/8

This figure is extremely rare and was produced only in very small numbers. According to some research conducted by Dr Lydia Andreeva, state honoured art expert, the production of the sculpture was confirmed by Elena Danko, backed up by archive documents.  The original sketch illustrated (fig.1) is also published  in: 250 Years of Lomonosov Porcelain Factory 1744-1994, St Petersburg, 1994 p. 128.  The floral pattern on the dress closely resembles that found on the reverse of the Japanese girl's kimono, sold in Sotheby's Russian Sale, December 2005, lot 177.