Two porcelain military plates, Imperial Porcelain Factory, St Petersburg, period of Alexander II, 1875

This important group from a Private Collection (lots 1-3, 54, 100-110), UK includes sixteen rare examples of cabinet military porcelain plates from the period of Alexander II. The Imperial Porcelain Factory painters executed two versions of each plate, one intended for Emperor Alexander II and the second for the heir to the throne. Inspired by the series of watercolours by Piratsky depicting Changes in the Clothing and Arms of the Russian Imperial Army during the Reign of Alexander Nicholayevich this important cabinet service was commenced in 1886. Piratsky’s series was a supplement to the famous work by the military historian Alexander Viskovatov Historical Descriptions of the Clothing and Arms of the Russian Army and were made after the materials in the Musuem of the Main Intendance Offico. The original watercolours are held in the Russian Museum in St Petersburg and the series was continued by Pyotr Balashov (1853-1888) after Piratsky’s death. As can be seen in the present impressive and comprehensive group of plates, the Imperial Porcelain Painters used the watercolours to inspire vignettes and poses on the plates, rather than copying them directly, creating interesting comparisons between the source material and final product.

These inventive military scenes were created by the finest painters-decorators from the period, all represented in the present group, with four by A. Morozov, two each by A. Mironov, T. Semenov, N. Kholshevnikov and A. Novikov; and one each by Wassily Midin, F. Torachkov, N. Ivanov and V. Kirsanov. 

The Volhynian Life Guards Regiments

The Volinsky Life Guards (better known as the Volhynian Life Guards Regiments) were initially intended as the personal guard of the Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich, though they also were dedicated to being the first responders in case the Kingdom of Poland mutinied against Russia. Originally formed in 1817 out of the Warsaw-based Finnish Guard Regiment, this Guard fought in the Crimean War, 1863 January Uprising, Polish-Russian War of 1830-31 and the First World War. Unexpectedly, though the Guard’s name is the same as that of the region Volhynia (now situated between West Ukraine, South West Belarus and South East Poland), it has no ties to this geographical region.

However, the regiment gained its notoriety due to its monumental role in the Russian Revolution. After being withdrawn from the Eastern Front and relocated to St Petersburg, the soldiers performed a mutiny: refusing their orders, the soldiers shot their weapons up at the sky instead of the unarmed crowds who had gathered in St Petersburg. The following day, they murdered their officers and joined the Bolshevik cause, quickly followed by the Semyonovsky, Izamylovsky and Litovsky regiments. Even the Preobrazhensky Regiment, who were historically the most elite and loyal Imperial regiment, followed suit.

The Life Guards Dragoon Regiment was founded by Peter the Great and comprised the 1^st Brigade of the 1^st Cavalry Division of the Imperial Army.