A Set of Eight Russian Porcelain Plates from Service for the Imperial Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, Gardner Porcelain Manufactory, Verbilki, 1778-1780

of circular form with scalloped, gilded rims, the borders painted with the sash and badge of the order, the centers with the star of the order with the Cyrillic motto Za trud i otechestvo (For Labor and Fatherland).

A la Vieille Russie, New York

some rubbing to gilding and some slight wear
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Peter the Great had intended to found a military order named in honor of the Russian hero-saint Alexander Nevsky, but had died before being able to do so. He had had the saint's remains brought from Vladimir to St. Petersburg on August 30, 1724 and re-interred at the St. Alexander Nevsky Lavra, founded on the spot where some 500 years earlier, on July 15, 1240, Alexander Nevsky had led his troops to victory over the Swedes. His widow, Empress Catherine I, established the Order in 1725 as both a military and civil award and it was directly after the Order of St. Andrew in terms of prestige. The Empress's Cabinet ordered the service for sixty covers and it was used on the saint's feast day, August 30.