Porcelain Easter Egg With Hand-painted Design — Apple Orchard In Bloom, Russia

A rare porcelain Easter egg made in Russia in the late 19th century, likely in the workshops of the Imperial Porcelain Manufactory in Saint Petersburg. Covered with a pastel green glaze typical of the period, it is adorned with delicate hand-painted designs depicting blossoming apple tree branches—white and purplish-pink petals, yellow stamens, and lush foliage. The composition is executed in a free style inspired by Japonism and Impressionism, characteristics of the Imperial Porcelain Manufactory’s decorative productions in the 1890s.

Its oval shape, the fineness of the porcelain, and the richness of the painting make it a typical example of the style influenced by the World’s Fairs. A similar example is published in:
Tamara Kudriavtseva & Harold Whitbeck, Russian Imperial Porcelain Easter Eggs (London: Merrell, 2001), Nos. 203–212, pp. 255–259.

Dimensions: Height: 11 cm, Width: 7 cm, Depth: 7 cm
Condition: Good condition, no chips or restorations; slight signs of age
Provenance: Private collection