- 558
Tray From The 'Discussion of The Stalin Constitution in Uzbekistan' Desk Set, Lomonosov State Porcelain Manufactory, Leningrad, 1938
Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
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Description
- porcelain
- width 21cm, 8 1/4 in.
after a 1936 design by Natalia Danko, inscribed A.N. (Cyrillic) and dated 1938 in blue overglaze, numbered 5
Exhibited
Hillwood Museum, no. 53; Pushkin Museum, no. 35/4
Literature
Oda k Radosti/Ode to Joy, p. 134, cat. no. 87; for comparison, see Nosovich and Popova, pp. 577-578.
Condition
Very good condition. Minor firing flaws and very light glaze rubbing to the right hand figure's nose and face. The base of the tray with cracks and scratches to the glaze and two or three small areas of retouching, most notably to the reverse.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
Adopted on 5 December 1936, the new Soviet, or Stalin, Constitution, revised the previous constitution of 1924 in order to better reflect 'the victories and achievements that the Soviet workers had won'. After a year of preparation, a select commission of thirty-one members chaired by Stalin produced a draft that was distributed for national discussion. Reportedly over forty-two million people attended 623,334 meetings and submitted 169,739 proposals, comments and suggested amendments.
This process was the source for Natalia Danko’s elaborate, multi-piece desk set for which she was awarded a Gold Medal at the 1937 Paris Exposition internationale des arts et techniques dans la vie moderne. The choice of Uzbekistan as the setting of these discussions was motivated by the republic's low rates of literacy and female participation in public and political life. State-mandated social reform in Uzbek society was frequently touted as an example of the superiority of the Soviet system over the previous regime and contemporary governments. In other words, Uzbekistan best represented Soviet 'victories and achievements'.
This process was the source for Natalia Danko’s elaborate, multi-piece desk set for which she was awarded a Gold Medal at the 1937 Paris Exposition internationale des arts et techniques dans la vie moderne. The choice of Uzbekistan as the setting of these discussions was motivated by the republic's low rates of literacy and female participation in public and political life. State-mandated social reform in Uzbek society was frequently touted as an example of the superiority of the Soviet system over the previous regime and contemporary governments. In other words, Uzbekistan best represented Soviet 'victories and achievements'.