Rare Very Beautiful Mini Cup Gardner Porcelain Factory, 1770-1780s
Height: 0.9 inches 2.5 cm. The Gardner Porcelain Factory was founded in 1754 in the village of Verbilki, near Moscow (officially opened in 1766). The founder and owner of the factory was the English merchant Franz Yakovlevich Gardner, with his eldest son Franz Frantsevich also participating in organizing production. The raw materials for the products were Glukhov clay from the Chernigov region and clay from the Gzhel region. Initially, Gardner experimented, and the factory produced only trial items in small quantities.
Later, it began producing dishes similar to those of the Grebenshchikov factory. Soon, however, the factory's assortment rapidly expanded. In 1777, Gardner porcelain received recognition from the imperial family; the service (dinner set) made for Catherine II received the highest praise. That same year, Gardner gained the right to use the Moscow coat of arms on his products. The factory began producing elite personalized sets for wealthy families.
However, the factory produced not only elite items but also launched mass production of relatively inexpensive porcelain tableware. It was cheaper than Saxon competitors' products and quickly gained success in the Russian market. At the same time, the production of the famous Gardner figurines began. By 1780, the factory employed more than 150 people. Gardner passed away, and his enterprise was inherited by his son, Franz Frantsevich, and later by his wife, Sarah Alexandrovna.By the end of the 18th century, the factory's artists moved away from copying European porcelain and began developing their own original style, known as the Gardnerian style. In 1817, the famous series of figurines, "The Magic Lantern, " depicting townspeople, began production. The signature floral style began to appear in the decoration of the services.
In the 1820s, a series of miniature figurines, up to 5 cm in height, was produced. The stamp on the bottom confirms that the cup was made between 1770 and 1780. The product is packaged securely and efficiently. Thank you for your interest!