A Rare Soviet porcelain charger, State Porcelain Factory, Petrograd, circa 1920

This rare charger was probably executed after a design by Rudolf Wilde (1868 - 1938). Wilde was one of the premier artists for both the Imperial and State porcelain Factory. His career at the factory begun in 1905, where Wilde was first hired as a draughtsman designer. Within twelve years, he rose to the position of the head of the painting workshop from 1917-35. During this time, he was notably awarded the gold medal at the Exposition Internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes, Paris.

In the latter stages of his career, he served as the director of the factory (from 1930) and was in charge of the artist section of the Volkhov factory (1936) before falling victim to political repression.