"Nineteenth-century Russian porcelain is, first and foremost, a military theme."

The translation of "Военная тематика" into English is "Military theme" or "Military topics."

Military Theme

19th-century Russian porcelain is primarily characterized by military themes. Service sets, decorative vases and plates, plaques, and sculptures were used to celebrate victories in numerous military campaigns of that time. Russia frequently engaged in struggles for border territories, which was reflected in national art. The Imperial Factory played a leading role in producing military-themed items. In 1810, when war with Napoleon became inevitable, the factory's assortment included plates featuring battle scenes, remarkable for their fine painting, realism, and meticulous detailing. Special attention was paid to the uniforms and equipment of officers from various regiments, portrayed with historical accuracy.

A separate series was dedicated to the outstanding commanders and heroes of the 1812 War: Kutuzov, Bagration, Platov, and Davydov. They were depicted not only on decorative plates or plaques but also on dining sets. Meanwhile, grand vases were decorated with portraits of reigning emperors surrounded by military symbolism—weapons and allegorical figures of Glory and Victory. The best samples of battle painting were created in the 1820s by the artist Jean-François Swybach, who was invited from Sèvres. Later Russian copyists were influenced by his painting style. A helpful resource for them was a graphic publication released in 1840, dedicated to the military uniforms of the era of Nicholas I and Alexander I.

“Military plates” were produced in several series:

Series Name / Year of Launch / Brief Description:

White - Late 1820s - Known only from archival documents,

Gold - 1828 - Currently considered rare.

Blue - 1830

Turquoise - 1838 - The most mass-produced series.

Brown - 1850 - Reflected the reform of Alexander II, which led to changes in military coat design.

The military series plates from the Imperial Factory served as decorations in palace halls and were only rarely used as intended during ceremonial regimental dinners. As a result, they have been wonderfully preserved and are highly valued by collectors. One such plate was sold at a Christie’s auction in 2015 for $80,500. Exclusive items from military series are not accessible to everyone. However, it is possible to enhance a collection with inexpensive standard plates that were produced in large batches—up to 800 pieces a month.