What is the world famous for the porcelain empire of the Kuznetsov family: Dulevo porcelain

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Only about a century and a half ago, the flourishing of porcelain production of white clay products of the highest quality began in Russia. They were valued very highly and were considered a sign of good taste and wealth of the owners. And this miracle was produced by factories "Porcelain King" Matvey Kuznetsov, who created a whole "porcelain empire" in the Moscow region. However, the peak of the porcelain rush is a thing of the past, and traditional Russian porcelain, made literally until recently, has become a collectible.

Today, mass-produced porcelain figurines are used mainly as souvenirs and gifts, having lost their original meaning as well as value.

A bit of the history of Russian porcelain

Interestingly enough, the first Porcelain Manufactory in Russia was founded in 1744 in St. Petersburg with the assistance of the daughter of Peter I, Elizabeth, who invited foreign masters to develop the composition of domestic porcelain. However, the method of obtaining hard porcelain from local raw materials, which is the main one to this day, was discovered by Dmitry Vinogradov.

In 1765 the Porcelain Manufactory reached a high level and became known as the Imperial Porcelain Factory (now the Lomonosov Factory). Not even a century will pass as manufactories for the production of the famous Russian porcelain F. Ya. Gardner (Verbilok porcelain), A. G. Popov (Gorbunov porcelain), T. Y. Kuznetsov (Dulevo porcelain).

The Kuznetsov Porcelain Empire

The initiator of the foundation of the Dulevo porcelain factory was a merchant from Gzhel, Terenty Kuznetsov, the son of Yakov Kuznetsov and grandfather of Matvey Sidorovich. He began the construction of manufacturing facilities in the wastelands near the village of Dulevo, near Moscow. In 1832, the factory began producing porcelain, and twenty years later this manufactory became the leading enterprise in Russia.

Over time, all the porcelain factories near Moscow turned out to be the property of the famous Matvey Kuznetsov (1846-1911), who, at the age of 18, after the sudden death of his father, had to take over the management of the group of enterprises. Despite such a young age, Matvey was not only able to keep, but also expanded his business. So, in 1870, he bought out an unprofitable porcelain factory in Tver, founded a porcelain factory in Ukraine, and after a while acquired the famous Gardner porcelain factory in Russia.

Kuznetsov's porcelain of that time was of the highest quality, since raw materials and paints were imported from Europe, the entire technological process took place on French equipment, and the decor was distinguished by exquisite and exclusive decor. For this, the industrialist recruited eminent domestic artists and sculptors, among whom was M. A. Vrubel.

A special feature of Dulevo porcelain was the dazzling white color of clay, combined with the splendor of gilding and the brilliance of glaze. In turn, it was subdivided into porcelain for the aristocracy - exquisite in form and painting, and the so-called "tavern", where the painting was bright and catchy, emphasizing folk art and national traditions. So, simple "agashki" and rosans were borrowed from ceramic painting and became part of the Dulevo style.

It should be noted that not only Russian bourgeois with an average income inclined towards porcelain, painted in the folk style, the Asian market was also interested in the same bright colors. Therefore, before the revolution, porcelain production was organized in two directions, two artistic styles: the restrained Western European and the colorful Asian.

Legends about the "porcelain king"

Legends about the "porcelain king" of the Russian Empire, who supplied porcelain dishes to the royal court to Matvey Sidorovich Kuznetsov, circulated during his lifetime, they have survived to this day.

Once, being in Riga, Matvey Sidorovich happened to go to a tavern for dinner on New Year's Eve. The institution was crowded - students, apparently Germans, were celebrating the upcoming holiday with a company. The tipsy youth, noticing an elderly man who ordered a decanter of vodka, and herring for a snack, began to vigorously discuss in German and chuckle that, they say, the old man is so poor that he cannot even afford a glass of champagne for the holiday. And I must say that at that time vodka was much cheaper than now, but champagne cost a lot of money.

Realizing what was at stake, Kuznetsov, without batting an eye, called the waiter to him and began to give instructions, and then held out several large bills. The stunned waiter, having come to his senses, began to fulfill the order of the elderly gentleman. First he brought a large basin and put it at the guest's feet, then he brought a box of the most expensive champagne and, opening bottle after bottle, began pouring the foaming contents into the basin. All visitors to the inn were bewildered.

And then, what happened next - plunged into shock even the experienced. Matvey Sidorovich lowered his feet into the basin and began to wash his slightly dusty boots. Dead silence reigned in the tavern, and the "porcelain king" took a glass of vodka, picked up a herring on a fork and continued to eat.

Who knew from the visitors of the tavern that in front of them was the owner of several factories, a holder of a number of orders of the Russian Empire, a supplier to the court of His Imperial Majesty, the uncrowned king of Russian porcelain production, Matvey Sidorovich Kuznetsov.

Modesty and wealth are difficult to combine into a single whole. However, in Kuznetsov it was combined very organically. Being from an Old Believer family, he is used to living modestly and caring for his fellow believers. And having become the owner of the enterprises, Matvey Sidorovich also took care of the workers, in every possible way trying to facilitate their work. Electricity and electric motors appeared at its factories, and finished products were transported along the internal railway track.

At factories he built hospitals, chapels, almshouses, stadiums, baths, schools, where workers were taught to read and write. And for the smarter, accounting courses were organized, after which the workers were transferred to the category of specialist employees.

By the end of the 19th century, the "Porcelain King" controlled two-thirds of the porcelain and faience market of the Russian Empire. He sold his goods in England and Holland, as well as in their colonies. Kuznetsov also exported Russian porcelain to Asian countries. His products were also in great demand in China, the country where porcelain was invented. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that Kuznetsov's products have repeatedly received gold medals at international exhibitions.

The fate of the Dulevo porcelain factory after the revolution

After the revolution, the Dulevo plant, like everyone else, was nationalized by the Bolsheviks. And it should be noted that the production continued to develop, changing the theme, technology and decor: at the request of the time, the dishes were already produced more simple, without pretentiousness, often of a propaganda nature. By the way, porcelain items of the 1920s are now in great demand among collectors.

In the 40s, all the achievements of porcelain production were canceled out by the Patriotic War, when all factories were reequipped for the country's defense. And only by 1950, after reconstruction, the factory reached the pre-war level in terms of the volume of porcelain products. And if in 1913 about three thousand people worked at the enterprise, then in the 60s their number doubled.

And we must pay tribute, in addition to mass production, masterpieces of Russian porcelain began to be created, marked with numerous prizes and awards.

Today, the works of factory sculptors and artists decorate domestic museums and art galleries, and are in great demand among collectors around the world.

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