Gardner's Porcelain Factory

The Gardner Porcelain Factory was founded at Verbilki near Moscow 1758-65 by an Englishman named Francis Gardner. It was run by his descendents until 1891. Of the many products the factory made, its best were statuettes of Russian peasants made in the early and mid 19th century. These statuettes were similar to those made by the St. Petersburg Imperial Porcelain Factory, except more colourful. Best known was the series of figurines based on images of St Petersburg types published in the monthly Volshebny fonar (Magic Lantern) in 1817-18.

Products made in the factory’s later years included tea services painted with roses in white medallions on strong red, blue or green backgrounds. These were often made for export to Turkey or Central Asia and were often appropriately marked with Arabic characters.

In the 1770s and 1780s the factory produced the four famous Order Services to a commission from Empress Catherine II. These superb dining-services decorated with the badges and colours of leading Russian orders - the Order of St Andrew the First-Called, the Order of St George the Victorious, the Order of St Alexander Nevsky and the Order of St Vladimir - were used during the formal receptions given for the holders of the respective honours.

In 1892 the factory was sold to Matvei Kuznetsov and became part of the company bearing his name.

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