Articles
Authors’ research and art history materials
25 June 2025 Pyotr Leonov: How One Man Ignited Russian Porcelain with Color, Audacity, and Real Life A Keyhole to Another World Be honest: have you ever thought of a porcelain cup as a manifesto of an era, a challenge to society, and a cry from an artist's soul? Probably not. For most of us, porcelain is a delicate, refined, but somewhat retro-forgotten little cloud from grandma's china cabinet. But imagine: beneath the glaze of snow-white tablewa Porcelain 
5 February 2025 Moscow in Silver: When Every Jewelry Piece is Part of Our Identity Every city has its iconic places that shape its appearance. Moscow has many such places. The Kremlin – its panorama is depicted on a cigarette case, which showcases the classic view of the Kremlin from the Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge. 1. Cigarette case with a panorama of the Kremlin (signed). The architectural lines of the Kremlin form a harmonious row Silver 
28 January 2025 Porcelain: The Art of Creation and Restoration from the Layers of Time The Origins of Restoration As soon as humans learned to create objects from available materials, the need arose to restore them when something broke or was seriously damaged. Archaeologists studying ancient vessels from various cultures and eras often find clues indicating the use of glue and mending techniques. One of the earliest known adhesives Porcelain 
24 January 2025 Graphics: From the First Lines to Masterpieces! It is difficult to imagine a person who has never been involved in sculpture suddenly starting to create works from clay or stone. Or for someone who has never looked at a painting to decide to paint in oils on canvas without any knowledge of technique. However, graphics is that form of artistic expression familiar to everyone, from children to adu Paintings 
21 January 2025 Dance in Art Deco: The Secrets and Passion of Plasticity In every historical direction of art, one can discover characteristic motifs and themes, as well as preferred figurative systems through which its specificity and archetypes are revealed. In European art of the first third of the 20th century, one of the most vivid motifs became dance—as an independent art form, encompassing both classical ballet a Sculpture 
14 January 2025 Russian Silver: Masterpieces Ahead of Europe Введите подпись The art of working with silver in Russia reached a level that in many ways surpassed the capabilities of European masters. The finest chasing, exquisite engravings, the most complex enamel overlays—all of this became the hallmark of Russian silversmiths. Their works not only met the aesthetic demands of the era but also embodied a u Silver 
11 January 2025 Mysterious "little birds" on rubles Information about the mysterious "little birds" on the 1897 silver rubles sparks interest and discussion among collectors and numismatists. First and foremost, it should be noted that such differences on coins are not accidental. The marks on the edge of the rubles under investigation are various symbols implying a specific minting history and, pos Coins 
10 January 2025 Outstanding specimens of gold coins — multiples In ancient times, there was a wide variety of gold coins that gained popularity and respect: Persian darics, Greek staters, and Roman aurei and solidi. These coins existed within systems largely based on silver and were distinguished by the stability of their weight standards, which were maintained across many eras. Введите подпись Outstanding spec Coins 
17 December 2024 Secret symbols on Elizabeth's coins The medalist, who gained worldwide fame, spent only a few months in Russia. Nevertheless, this time proved sufficient for his works to take an honorable place among the outstanding works of medal art of the 18th century. Введите подпись At the time of signing the contract in 1757, Jacques Antoine Dassier had already been working as an engraver at t Coins 
3 December 2024 Silver-plated Введите подпись Collectors and connoisseurs of 19th-century applied art in Russia are undoubtedly familiar with silver-plated items bearing the hallmarks of many Moscow and St. Petersburg masters—such as Fedor Emme, Dorofei Borisov, Vasily Rozenstrakh, Kuznetsov, Dubinin, Ksimantovsky, and others. No less interesting are the items of Polish "appliq Silver 
2 December 2024 Nikolai Demyanovich Gritsyuk The name of Nikolai Demyanovich Gritsyuk, a Novosibirsk artist, has won the hearts of many both in Russia and abroad. With his passing into the world of art, his reputation did not fade but only strengthened—his works today occupy worthy places in institutions such as the Tretyakov Gallery, the Russian Museum, and the Berlin National Gallery, as we Paintings 
28 November 2024 Konstantin Makovsky In the history of Russian art, there are few artists who enjoyed such high popularity during their lifetime and were so quickly forgotten after their death as Konstantin Makovsky. His artistic legacy is fragmented and scattered around the world, which became one of the reasons why the master's work long remained in the shadows. Makovsky's works wer Paintings 
28 November 2024 Soviet Union Cup Holder A podstakannik (tea glass holder) is an object familiar to almost every resident of countries that were once part of the Soviet Union. Moreover, in Russia, it is impossible to find a person who has never held a podstakannik in their hands or seen one on the shelves at home. These metal items are commonly found in ordinary apartments, at dachas, and Other 
25 November 2024 Artistic casting of the Urals Введите подпись By 1938, the artistic production at Uralmashzavod had achieved significant results. Modern equipment and the use of advanced technologies allowed for the creation of castings that were not inferior, and sometimes even surpassed in quality, the products of the Kasli plant. Figurines and large sculptures crafted by the workshop master Sculpture 
21 November 2024 Nazi porcelain In 1933, the National Socialists came to power, and from that moment on, the introduction of a new ideology began in Germany. Strict regulation and rigid control of all aspects of life contributed to the formation of an extraordinary societal structure, which manifested itself first and foremost not in monumental art, but in the art of small forms, Porcelain 
21 November 2024 Kuznetsov porcelain The topic we are discussing today concerns many art enthusiasts—how to satisfy one's desire to acquire antiques when the wallet doesn't allow it. Dreams of rare and beautiful old trinkets often clash with the reality of high prices, which cast doubt on the possibility of acquiring them. We've all heard about amazing finds at flea markets or verniss Porcelain 
21 November 2024 "Porcelain" Pushkiniana The Pushkin theme has occupied an important place in art for over one hundred and fifty years. Interestingly, with each new round anniversary associated with the poet's name, this interest acquires new shades. The lifetime portraits of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, created by the artists Vasily Tropinin and Osip Kiprensky in 1827, despite their di Porcelain 
21 November 2024 The Porcelain Trail of the Revolution Among collectible items, there are few things whose value was already determined by their contemporaries. Soviet propaganda porcelain belongs to such accessories. This unique genre became a means of mass propaganda, yet it was produced in limited editions. Porcelain intended for decorating homes was obtained only by the luckiest collectors. This un Porcelain