A soviet plate, Higher State Art-Technical Studios (VkhUTEMAS), circa 1920s

the cavetto with the figure of a kneeling Caucasian man, with hammer and sickle before him, the bright blue border with an Arabic transliteration of the Russian slogan Workers of the World United, and with six shaped cartouches with images of workers and a factory, with red manufactory mark 

There is wear to the glaze, especially to the rim, consistent with age.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

VkhUTEMAS was founded in 1920 and became one of the leading centres of the modern art. It evolved from the Stroganovsky Art and Industrial School and the School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture which in 1918 had been renamed: the First and Second Free State Art Studios. In its intent, nature and scope VkhUTEMAS was similar to the German Bauhaus. Both schools sought to merge the craft tradition with modern technology. The VkhUTEMAS trained architects, sculptors, painters, as well as artists providing qualifications in textiles, polygraphs, ceramics, wood and metal treatment. Students were first introduced to the new diciplines of: "Space", "Volume", "Colour" and "Drawing" and then entered training in the aforementioned specilialised faculties.