Other names: Imperial Porcelain Factory, State Porcelain Factory, Leningrad Lomonosov Porcelain Factory

(pronunciation: lo-mo-no-sov, all long o’s?  Anybody speak Russian?)

Location: St. Petersburg, Russia

Current Lomonosov production is readily available in jewelry, gift and fine department stores and on the Internet. The company has factory store in Russia, so you will have to get your figures through resale outlets. The Lomonosov manufacturer uses a cobalt blue in most of their dinnerware designs, and it is lovely. The dinnerware is well made and hand painted. The most famous pattern in a network of cobalt lines with superimposed blue and gold on each crossing, known as cobalt net. All Lomonosov figurines are cleanly modeled and hand painted, using realistic colors and usually using a fairly delicate hand. They also produce some figures in white with minimal gold highlights that are quite beautiful.

My opinion: Lomonosov porcelains are beautiful. The figures are modeled with clean lines and are deftly painted. They are also very reasonable at list price, and can be found for less.

* * * Use plate racks to display some of your plate collection. * * *

Product lines:
Animals: bears, dogs, cats, wild and domestic animals, birds, aquatic animals; most realistically colored, but some in white with minimal gold decoration
Bells: mostly with traditional patterns painted on them
Cup and saucer pairs, covered cups
Sets of china dinnerware: various styles of body shapes, 16 patterns available at www.lomonosov-russia.com
Coffee, tea and wine sets, decanters
Decorative plates
Ornaments: hanging, eggs
Thimbles, including the famous cobalt net
Yakut, native of arctic region

Custom Orders: you may order a set of china with your own chosen emblem or picture, corporate logo or the monogram of your choice.

Prices:
Animals, some below $10, up to $300 for larger and more complex figures
Bells: $40 to $90
Single cup and saucer: $20 to $1000
Sets of china dinnerware $500 to $7000
Decorative plates: 420 to $105
Ornaments: hanging $25, eggs $1200 to $2500
Thimbles: $20 to $30

Collector’s Society: No, but purchases in official shops accumulat until you begin to get a 5% or 10% discount. Discounts for purchase by credit cards “plastic cards” is also available. So if you go to Russia, you might be able to get something off your purchase, to pay for the shipping.

The official company site is: http://www.ipm.ru/enstart for English

History
The Lomonosov Porcelain Factory was established in 1744, by Empress Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great, to “serve native trade and native art.” Originally all production was designed exclusively for Romonov family and imperial court. The founding of the factory was inspired by a visit of Peter to Saxony where Dresden porcelain were being produced. Lomonosov started out producing porcelain in the styles popular in Europe, but from Russian raw materials, although at times they imported kaolin from Limoges. Also at times during its history the company was protected from foreign imports by law. The quality and innovation declined and the factory was in danger of being closed in 1881, but it saved by Alexander III and a new glaze developed in 1889 known as “sang-de-boef” (cow’s blood). At the beginning of the 20th century, again in jeopardy, the emperor employed Danish experts employed and after mastering underglaze decoration, Lomonosov returned to the forefront of porcelain production in Europe. The Art Nouveau style was employed in new forms and decoration. World War I blocked import of German porcelain forced a change in the production line and the company produced porcelain for technological and chemical use, minimizing fancy porcelain production. With the revolution of 1917, the company was renamed as the State Porcelain Factory. In 1925 the company was renamed for the founder of the Russian Academy of Science, Mikhail Lomonosov on the 200th anniversary of the academy’s foundation. The new name was the Leningrad Lomonosov Porcelain Factory,and produced collectible animal figurines and dinnerware. Its best known pattern is a net design of cobalt lines with each crossing embellished with a blue and gold cross. This pattern is based on design the company made for Catherine the Great. The new pattern first appeared in 1949 and continues to be produced today. The company was privatized in 1993 as the Lomonosov Porcelain Factory, and produces extensive exports. In the 21st century, with some furor, controlling interest was purchased by a group of citizens of the US, but the stock has since been sold back to Russian oil baron. The company has recently started to produce hand-made copies of Imperial porcelains from objects in Hermitage Museum, including dinner sets, vases, figurines from famous series of the Russian Peoples, and other items from throughout the company’s history.

In 1844 a museum was started on the factory grounds; lately it has became a branch of the State Hermitage Museum.

The unexceptional quality of the porcelain is due to finest paste made from highest quality ingredients made with up-to-date equipment. The paste is then left to rest for 10 years before being used. Throughout history the company has stamped its products, but the mark has varied, so the first step in collecting is learning the time periods for each mark.

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