Egyptian service from the collection of Museum of ceramics and Kuskovo Estate-Museum

Chief of the Department of Russian and West-European Ceramics and Glass
T.A.Mozzhukhina
Conservator of the Funds of West-European China
O.A.Egorova

The Museum of ceramics and Kuskovo Estate-Museum (18th century) is one of the most interesting Moscow museums. From the point of view of its artistic and historical significance, it is a unique surviving ensemble of palaces and parks founded in the 18th century by Count P.B.Sheremetev as a summer pleasure home in the outskirts of Moscow.

Portrait of Emperor Alexander I

At the end of the 18th century Kuskovo was well known with its festivities, receptions and festivals. Various art and scientific collections were kept there, one of the best Russian serf theatre was also at Kuskovo. Many times the estate knew the presence, Russian Empresses Elizabeth Petrovna and Catherine the Great visited Kuskovo many times in the 18th century, Emperor Alexander II visited Kuskovo in the 19th century. Until now a French park with cut trees, ponds, marble sculptures and various pavilions is well preserved. A palace built from wood in the style of Classicism is wonderful with its original decoration of the interiors, paintings, furniture, items of decorative and applied art made by Russian and West European masters.

The State Museum of Ceramics, unique in Russia, has been opened at Kuskovo since 1932. Before this time it was in Moscow. China, ceramics, and glass from different European and Oriental countries since the ancient time until today are in the collection of this museum. Collections of Russian and West-European china, works by contemporary Russian artists are ones of the best in Russia. Ceremonial services made for the Russian Court by the greatest china factories of Russia and Europe are of great value.

"Egyptian service" France. Sevres. 1804-1806 Artists: Desk piece: architect- J.B Le Peur sculptor - A.Brachard, ornamental painting - T.Brognar painting of plates J.-F.-J. Swebach

Obelisk Alley of Rams Temple of Goddess Hathor in Dender Pylon

Obelisk Alley of Rams Pylon

Sculpture "Egyptian with a bowl" Compotiere with "Sagittarius" sign of zodiac Compotiere with "Lion" sign of zodiac Compotiere with "Virgin" sign of zodiac

Egyptian service made in France in 1804-1806 for Alexander 1 has its special place in the collection of the Museum of Ceramics. Keeping the traditions of European imperial services of the 18th century this service is different by new themes of decoration and the logic of its construction and composition. In applied art this service is considered as a classical example of the Empire style (from French — Empire) in chinaware.

As other types of French art, at that time china was influenced by personal wishes and taste of Bonaparte who was convinced that artworks are made only in order to glorify the unlimited Emperor's power, puissance of State and military victories of France. Problems of the "propaganda of triumph" were well perceived by the masters of the factory at Sevres.

It was baron Dominique Vivant Lenon (1747-1825), a famous scientist, writer, and engraver participating at the Egypt expedition who expressed the idea to make a service dedicated to the Egyptian expedition of Napoleon and to use his drawings published in 1802 in an album of engravings "Travel to Upper and Lower Egypt" as a source of subjects.

The historical materials concerning the creation of this service are kept in Archives in Sevres. According to the inventory published in 1808, the service totals 136 different items and a surtout-de-table forming a whole ensemble.

The center of the composition — a biscuit table decoration which was put in the center of the table represented 13 small architectural models of the monuments of Ancient Egypt — "Kiosk of August" in File Island, a pavilion from the temple complex dedicated to Goddess Isis, Temple of God Horus" in Edfou, Temple of Goddess Hathor" in Dender, pylons and obelisks of the Temple in Luxor dedicated to God Amon-Ra, alley of sphinxes from the complex of temples in Karnak, the official holy sanctuary of Ancient Egypt.

The service is divided in two parts "Cabaret" — tea and coffee service and dessert service. The most interesting forms are the following: the so-called freezers- cups for freezing wine, sugar-bowl in form of amphora, sugar-bowls for "loaf of sugar", creamers-"oinohoia" with three noses, compotieres decorated with signs of the zodiac, cups for coffee "a la jasmine flower" with the views of Egypt.

Decorations in relief, very deep and intense cobalt background, ornamental and thematic paintings are the essential elements of decoration of the service. In the individual gilding decoration of each piece ancient Egyptian hieroglyph are combined with geometric and vegetal motives.

A special place is reserved to plates decorated with paintings using subjects (Egyptian antiquities, battle and everyday scenes, landscapes) of Denon engravings. Paintings made as a "grisaille" are supposed to be executed by Jacques-Francois-Joseph Swebach (1769-1823), the leading artist of the Sevres factory.

Egyptian service was created in order to offer this chef-d'oeuvre to Emperor Napoleon at the time of his greatest triumph. But it was another destiny and the service turned up in Russia. Charles-Maurice Taleyran, French Minister of Foreign Affairs according to Napoleon's wish to revive in diplomatic goals the politics of gifts included the service into a list of gifts and the service was offered to Emperor Alexander 1 in Erfurt to celebrate the union between Russia and France in 1808.

The details of the Egyptian service being in Russia are not studied yet. Before 1883 the service was at the Chamber of Services of the Great Kremlin Palace. later it was kept at the Armoury, and in the 1920s the service was given to the State Museum of Ceramics. (in 1929 several items were given as an exchange to the Hermitage).

The whole restoration of the service was done in 1992-1993. In 1993-1994 the Egyptian service was on display at "Royal Tables" international exhibition in Versailles and in 1994-1995 at "Egyptomania" Exhibition in France, Canada and Austria.

Sugar-bowl for "loaf of sugar" Plate Plate	Sugar-bowl for "loaf of sugar" Slop basin Kettle with a cover Tea-cup with a saucer in Etruscan style Coffee cup with a saucer "jasmine flower"	Tea-cup with a saucer in Etruscan style Plate
Sugar-bowl for "loaf of sugar"	Sugar-bowl with a cover in form of amphora	Plate
Kettle with a cover Creamer Creamer Tea-cup with a saucer in Etruscan style