A Rare Russian Porcelain Figurine Depicting A Obdorskaya Ostachka,gardner

"OBDORSKY OSTYAK" STATUETTE (FROM THE "PEOPLES OF RUSSIA" SERIES), PORCELAIN, BISCUIT, GARDNER

The "Peoples of Russia" series of statuettes was produced by the Gardner factory beginning in the 1870s and comprised approximately 50 pieces. They were created based on the color lithographs from the book “Ethnographic Description of the Peoples of Russia,” written in French by T. de Pauli. These figurines were, in a sense, sculptural interpretations of the original prints.

The “Peoples of Russia” series covers a wide variety of peoples, including both traditional ethnic groups and representatives of different social classes. Each figurine was meticulously crafted with attention to national costumes and attributes. The figurines served not only as decorative items but also as educational models, demonstrating the cultural diversity of the Russian Empire. The “Peoples of Russia” series holds an important place in Russian museum collections and continues to attract the attention of collectors and art enthusiasts.The luxurious album “Ethnographic Description of the Peoples of Russia” in French was published by the Imperial Russian Geographical Society in 1862 on the occasion of the millennium of the Russian state. Its editor, Fedor Khristianovich Pauli (1817–1867), enlisted the greatest scientists and illustrators of his time to work on the edition.