IS IT LOMONOSOV?

The first thing to say about Lomonosov Porcelain is it is NOT RARE!! Their animal figurines were sold in the UK before the last war in WOOLWORTHS! My Mum brought the Large and small Pandas for 3/6d (17.5 pence!!) in 1936.

Lomonosov Porcelain has been made in St.Petersbug/Leningrad/St.Petersburg since 1744. The factory was originally called the Imperial Porcelain Factory but changed to Lomonosov after the Revolution. It is probably most famous for its Animal figurines that range from tiny birds to the mighty Polar Bear at nearly 18" from nose to tail.

ALL Lomonosov was/is marked, normally with a factory stamp and either Made is USSR (Soviet era) or Made in Russia (since 1992). Some of the smaller pieces had a small label with again Made in USSR and the factory mark.

This picture shows the USSR and RUSSIA marks. Note the difference in colour. The earlier mark is almost always much darker.

THERE ARE UNSCRUPULOUS PEOPLE ABOUT WHO FAKE THE "USSR" BY USING THE "USS" FROM RUSSIA AND ADDING INDISTINCT RED MARKS TO LOOK LIKE WEAR AND TEAR. THE UNDERSIDES OF THE ITEMS ARE UNGLAZED - THIS AREA COLLECTS DIRT AND DUST - SO IF YOU HAVE AN ITEM THAT IS SUPPOSEDLY FROM THE "USSR" ERA BUT IS IMMACULATELY CLEAN ON THE UNDERSIDE IT COULD BE FAKED. THEREARE ALSO CHINESE MADE ITEMS STAMPED "FOREIGN" USUALLY IN BLACK. THESE ARE COPIES MADE FROM ORIGINAL FIGURINES. APART FROM THE LACK OF MARKS THEY ARE VERY SHINY AND THE QUALITY OF THE PAINTING IS NOT AS GOOD AS THE REAL THING. FOR OBVIOUS REASONS THE MOSTNUMEROUS ONE IS THE PANDA.

THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT LOMONOSOV IS THE FACT THAT EACH PIECE IS STILL HANDPAINTED SO NO TWO ANIMALS ARE ALIKE. We have a "pride" of three Tiger cubs and they are all easily distinguishable one from the other!