A Russian Porcelain Soup Plate with the Cross and Ribbon of the Order of St. Catherine, Popov Porcelain Manufactory, Gorbunovo, 1811-1860s

the cavetto painted with the diamond-studded cross of the Order of St. Catherine depicting St. Catherine of Alexandria holding a white cross before her and inscribed with Latin letters which signify God Save the Tsar, the scalloped, gilded rim with the Order's distinctive silver-banded watered silk red ribbon with the cross hanging from it at the bottom center.

Sotheby's London, February 13, 1986, lot 257, illustrated

some very minor wear to the paint and the gilding
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.

Although no Imperial commission for a Service for the Dames of the Order of St. Catherine has been located, a number of plates with the order's symbols obviously based on the design of the Gardner factory's services for the Orders of St. Alexander Nevsky and St. Vladimir are extant in private and museum collections. Marianna Bubchikova of the State Historical Museum has argued it must be assumed "that there existed some sort of private privilege that allowed for private commissioning of wares decorated with [symbols of the Russian orders]." Presumably, this privilege was only available to high-ranking members of society who held membership in the Order. She has dated these plates to the 1830s. See M. Bubchikova, "Ordenskie znaki na russkom farfore," Pinakoteka 5 (1998), pp. 22-23.