A Porcelain Plate from a Military Service, Imperial Porcelain Manufactory, St Petersburg, period of Nicholas II (1896-1917), dated 1909

the cavetto painted with an officer of the Horse Guard Artillery in 1893 on a galloping horse, other members of the Brigade in the background, the gold border centred with an Imperial eagle surrounded by laurel leaves, the reverse titled in Cyrillic, from a painting by V.V. Mazurovskii, signed Iv. Nazarov, also with green imperial cipher for Nicholas II and dated 1909

Excellent condition with only very minor abrasions to 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. 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."

This lot and the two following are from the final series of military plates made at the Imperial Porcelain Manufactory.  Emperor Nicholas II ordered work to begin in 1907, and it continued until 1913.  The central images for the new series were drawn from battle painter Viktor Mazurovskii's (1859-1944) series of watercolours of soldiers in uniforms during the reign Alexander III.  The distinctive borders were designed by Rudolf [von] Vilde, who later became a significant figure in the development of Soviet porcelain.  On the series, see Geraldika na russkom farfore, St Petersburg, 2008, pp. 26-28, 139-142.