A Pair of Bilibin Porcelain Plates

decorated with illustrations from the fairy tales – The Tsarevna Frog and Tsarevitch Ivan, the Fire Bird and the Gray Wolf.

Ivan Bilibin (1876-1942), was a popular Russian graphic artist and theatrical stage designer of the early 20th century.

Bilibin illustrated a number of Russian fairy tales, including Tsarevich Ivan, the Fire Bird and the Gray Wolf (1899) and The Tsarevna Frog (The Princess Frog) which was first published in 1900.

Bilibin’s illustrations were clearly influenced by Russian Moderne (Art Nouveau) style of the period. His unique manner of painting and his designs were highly praised by contemporaries.
Bilibin pictures were reproduced in different media including enamels and ceramics.

In the early 1900s, the Kornilov brothers porcelain factory in St Petersburg produced decorative plates after Bilibin fairy tale paintings.
There were two versions of the plates – one for the domestic market and another for export.
The export version was stamped in English – Made in Russia by Kornilov Bros., and had an export ‘bear’ mark.

The two plates offered here are of a very rare variety which was made exclusively for the Russian market.

Both plates are marked – the Kornilov factory St Petersburg with the Imperial warrant (double headed eagle).

One plate is 26,5 cm (10 3/8 in.), another – 26 cm (10 1/4 in.)

Both are in excellent condition