921/​339

“The Red Genius”. A soviet propaganda porcelain plate, of circular form, shallow well painted with a red warrior on a winged red horse soaring across a gilt sunburst sky above the flames of a burning purple city, upturned black and red rim, inscribed in French: “We will inflame the whole world with the fire of The Third International”. The Imperial Porcelain Factory, marked in underglaze green H II for Tsar Nicholas II of Russia (1894–1917); The State Porcelain Factory, marked in overglaze blue with hammer, sickle and cog 1922, numbered 242/9. Diam. 23.5 cm.

The motif is after a design by the artist Alisa Golenkina (1884–1970), inspired by an image from a popular printed calendar for 1919, designed by the graphic artist Boris Zvorykin.

Provenance: Martin Nielsen (1900–1962), member of the Danish Communist Party and editor-in-chief of the Danish communist newspaper Land and Folk 1952–1960. Martin Nielsen was also studying in the Soviet Union 1928–1930. He received this plate as a gift during these two years or from Soviet political partners in his general political activities through the years. Thence by descendants until today.

Auction
Category
Estimate

50,000–60,000 DKK

Sold

Price realised

80,000 DKK