“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.
Antiques – decorative art, furniture and carpets, 11 June 2024