5: History of the Museum. "The Cabinet of Exemplary Products" II

Dish: Heron

1892

Painted decoration by Arnold Krog

Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory, Denmark

Porcelain, with polychrome underglaze painting

In 1892 D.N. Guryev, the director of the Imperial Porcelain Factory, was sent to Denmark for a meeting with the management of the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory. He was to negotiate the loan of Danish specialists to St Petersburg and also to purchase a number of items that might serve as examples for Russian craftsmen learning the technique of polychrome underglaze painting. Among the items Guryev bought was the Heron dish created by the artistic director of the Danish factory, Arnold Krog (1856-1931). The new style of painted porcelain created under his leadership in the late 19th century was a striking element of the Art Nouveau era.