8 June 2016
POPOV MANUFACTORY, MOSCOW, 1840s
2,000-3,000 GBP
Height 18.5 cm.
Realistically modelled, wearing a raspberry and red striped Venetian outfit with gilt ornament and a plum-coloured manteau, holding an artist’s palette in his left hand, leaning on a marble column with gilt rim, on a geometric shaped base imitating floor and named in Latin ‘PAUL VERONESE’, with blue underglaze manufactory mark.
The rarely encountered porcelain figurines of Paolo
Veronese, Leonardo da Vinci and Benvenuto Cellini,
which are of great value to collectors, were created at
the Popov factory in the mid 19th century.
All porcelain factories at that time worked in fiercely
competitive conditions and were therefore forced to
follow the dictates of fashion. In the context of growing
general interest in the legacy of past times and
particularly in the art of the Renaissance, the Popov
manufactory decided to create a series of of figurines
based on illustrious people of that time. Two models
from this series are offered here at auction: Paolo
Veronese and Leonardo da Vinci. It is not known for
certain which artistic sources were used by the master
craftsmen at the Popov factory when they developed
these models, but they would have been among the
most popular and recognisable portraits.
Notes on symbols:
* Indicates 5% Import Duty Charge applies.
Ω Indicates 20% Import Duty Charge applies.
§ Indicates Artist's Resale Right applies.
† Indicates Standard VAT scheme applies, and the rate of 20% VAT will be charged on both hammer price and premium.