A Soviet Porcelain Plate with Folk Ornament, State Porcelain Factory, Petrograd, 1921

after a design by Zinaida Kobyletskaia (1880-1957), the deep soup plate painted with brightly colored flowers, foliage, and butterflies against a cobalt blue ground and with additional foliate ornament in ciselé gilt

with scattered cracks to glaze, mainly apparent on the reverse
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.

This design shows the clear influence of factory painter Alexandra Shchekotikhina-Pototskaia, who often combined brightly-colored and loosely rendered folk ornament with the precious gilding and cobalt long associated with Imperial services. The juxtaposition of these seemingly disparate elements often resulted in a thoroughly new and modern manner of decorating porcelain. Curator Natalia Petrova has noted that both Kobyletskaia and Shchekotikhina-Pototskaia used Imperial whiteware that had been glazed with cobalt in the late 19th century in preparation for additions to older services as a basis for some of their most interesting designs. We are grateful to Natalia Sergeevna Petrova for assistance in cataloging this lot.