Russian Imperial-era Porcelain Figurine of Cobbler, Miklashevski, circa 1840

Rare and finely-detailed Russian porcelain figure of a peasant cobbler in a seated pose bending towards a lapti sandal in his lap, with right foot raised on stump, underglazed in hues of brown, blue and white.

-6 in. high

by Miklashevski, circa 1840, with maker’s stamp on base

Provenance: Private Collection, Washington DC

The cobbler wears and is working on a pair of lapti, or plaited birchbark sandals which were worn by peasants in Russia’s north and east.

Landed proprietor Andrei Miklashevski founded a porcelain factory in 1839 in the village of Volokitino in the Chernigov province. He hired the ceramic artist Jacques Dart from the Jacob Petit workshop of Paris who served as factory designer until his death in 1851.  Darte trained serfs owned by Mikhlashevski who then took over production. When Alexander II abolished serfdom in 1861 the factory ceased to be profitable and closed.