For a long time, this sculptor worked as the chief model-maker at the Imperial Porcelain Factory. Over nearly half a century at the Saint Petersburg enterprise, he created numerous original plastic forms. The works of August Karl Spiess (1817—1904) span the second half of the 19th century, a period rich in cultural transformation.

Porcelain tableware and other porcelain items have served as a symbol of wealth, sophistication and origin for centuries. Today they are more affordable, but porcelain is still considered a prestigious material for tableware and decorative items that can turn a tea party into a ceremony. However, not all porcelain is the same, and there are different types,…