Rare gilded porcelain box from the M. S. Kuznetsov factory: a masterpiece of the Russian Imperial era of the 19th century

A rare gilded porcelain serving box from the 19th-century Russian Imperial era by the M. S. Kuznetsov porcelain factory. Made in the shape of a bouquet of asparagus. There is a blue stamped mark under the porcelain. The original factory, the Kuznetsov Brothers in Novo-Kharitonovo, was founded in 1810. In 1892, M. S. Kuznetsov acquired the famous porcelain factory of Francis Gardner. By the beginning of the 20th century, it had absorbed many small factories and soon became responsible for almost two-thirds of the ceramic and porcelain production in the Russian Empire. The factory produced items of such outstanding quality that in 1902 the owner was awarded the title of Supplier to the Imperial Court. Antique and vintage porcelain figurative tableware, boxes, interior items, and collectibles from Russia.