10:00 15.06.2026
A miracle of luxury and comfort: How Imperial Porcelain became a chronicle of the Russian Navy
© Russian Arctic and Far East Development
At the 2026 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the Imperial Porcelain Factory (IFZ) stand drew significant attention. On display were decorative pieces from the “Sea Power” dinnerware set, featuring images of Arctic vessels – both already built and currently under construction in Russia’s northern capital. Sculptures of animals from the Russian North completed the exhibition.
The history of the factory is closely tied to the Russian Navy. The tradition of creating tableware for imperial yachts began during the reign of Catherine the Great. The portal “Development of the Arctic and Far East” explores how this tableware was decorated, who designed the service for Alexander III’s yacht, and how the new “Sea Power” collection connects the Navy’s past with its present.
The tradition of ship’s tableware dates back to Catherine the Great’s extensive Tauride voyage in 1787. A special set was created for this journey, which lasted more than six months. It was used for ceremonial receptions aboard the main yacht that transported the empress to Crimea, according to Yelena Mikhailova, curator of the Imperial Porcelain Factory’s Heritage foundation.
According to Mikhailova, the tradition continued to develop in the 19th century. Tableware was produced at the IFZ for emperors, members of grand ducal families, and those closest to the imperial court. Porcelain was also supplied to the officers’ mess rooms on official yachts.
“A special set with corresponding monograms was made for each vessel, indicating its ownership by a particular yacht or the monarch for whom it was built. And of course, a primarily maritime theme was maintained,” Mikhailova noted.
Based on sketches by the court architect
One of the factory’s signature sets was created for Alexander III’s yacht, the Derzhava. The pieces intended for 30 people are adorned with a decorative border featuring anchors, intertwined ropes, and chains. Contemporaries called it a true “miracle of luxury and comfort.” Interestingly, the set was created from sketches by court architect Ippolit Monighetti, who designed the interior of the Derzhava.
“He not only developed what we would now call the yacht’s interior design, but also created the drawings that were later used to make this service,” Mikhailova emphasized.
Work on the tableware lasted from 1871 to 1873. According to the yacht’s inventory, the service comprised 816 porcelain pieces, 1,428 glass pieces, and 802 silver pieces.
Several years ago, a replica of the service was created at the Imperial Porcelain Factory. It was based on a historical mold, reproduced with slight changes in proportions from a 19th-century model.
“A service for the future Emperor Alexander III was once painted on this mold. It was created for his wedding to the Danish princess Maria Sophie Frederica Dagmar, who took the name Maria Feodorovna upon her conversion to Orthodoxy. And it was on the Derzhava that they later set off on their journey to the empress’s homeland,” the curator explained.
After the establishment of Soviet power, the production of dinnerware for naval command personnel continued. However, these pieces were far more modestly decorated – primarily with coats of arms associated with naval departments. Meanwhile, the technology for producing porcelain, Mikhailova adds, has remained virtually unchanged since the 18th century.
From the Shtandart to a nuclear icebreaker
The maritime theme remains relevant today. Several years ago, the IFZ presented a themed dinnerware set called “Wardroom.” The idea came from actor and writer Yevgeny Grishkovets, who served in the Pacific Fleet in the Far East.
“This attracted the interest of both buyers and artists. That’s how another naval-themed dinnerware set was created. It is also based on the historical ‘Coat of Arms’ style and is adorned with corresponding patterns,” Mikhailova explains.
The modern “Sea Power” dinnerware set, presented at SPIEF 2026, was created in collaboration with the United Shipbuilding Corporation. Initially, it consisted of six decorative dishes depicting the legendary Romanov yachts – the Shtandart, the Livadia, and other vessels.
The Imperial Porcelain Factory’s stand at the 2026 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
© United Shipbuilding Corporation Shareholding Company
Now the collection connects the Russian Navy’s past with its present: it has been expanded to include plates depicting modern Project 22220 nuclear icebreakers, research vessels, and the North Pole ice-resistant platform. All were built or are currently under construction at the USC Baltic Shipyard and the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg.
The unity of the series is emphasized by a common pattern, hand-painted by Olga Budashova, an artist from the Imperial Porcelain Factory.
“We have a fairly large team of artists who paint ‘marine’ pieces by hand. When a request comes in, they explore the theme and bring it to life through their own creative vision and imagination. That’s how we create these beautiful pieces, which are then sent to stores or directly to customers,” Mikhailova concluded.
