The Cabinet Service was the largest and and one of the most important of the grand services produced at the Imperial Porcelain
Manufactory in the last quarter of 18th century. Comprising over 900 pieces, the service included the pieces necessary for serving dinner,
dessert, and tea. Empress Catherine II commissioned it in 1793 as a presentation gift for her Chief Minister, Count Alexander Andreevich
Bezborodko (1747-1799). It was paid for by the Cabinet, which is probably the explanation for its better-known name.
The service was produced during the period referred to as 'severe Classicism' in Russia. Each piece is decorated with bands of field
flowers and centred with Italianate scenes.
The service was a catalog of the monuments and sights that Russian noblemen and women might see while on their Grand Tour, as
well as the richly-illustrated volumes of "Voyage Pittoresque" acquired by the most discerning collectors and bibliophiles of the day.
The Empress used the service to test the knowledge of young aristocratic men who had recently completed a course of study. Depictions
on the service of specific historical monuments provided themes for table conversation, during which the level of knowledge of the guests
was being tested. Should a young noblemen have been particularly stumped, they would find the locations of the Italian scenes identified
on the bottom of each piece.
Many of the Italian scenes on the pieces from the Cabinet Service were copied from Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1788) and
Giuseppe Vasi (1710-1782).
Manufactory in the last quarter of 18th century. Comprising over 900 pieces, the service included the pieces necessary for serving dinner,
dessert, and tea. Empress Catherine II commissioned it in 1793 as a presentation gift for her Chief Minister, Count Alexander Andreevich
Bezborodko (1747-1799). It was paid for by the Cabinet, which is probably the explanation for its better-known name.
The service was produced during the period referred to as 'severe Classicism' in Russia. Each piece is decorated with bands of field
flowers and centred with Italianate scenes.
The service was a catalog of the monuments and sights that Russian noblemen and women might see while on their Grand Tour, as
well as the richly-illustrated volumes of "Voyage Pittoresque" acquired by the most discerning collectors and bibliophiles of the day.
The Empress used the service to test the knowledge of young aristocratic men who had recently completed a course of study. Depictions
on the service of specific historical monuments provided themes for table conversation, during which the level of knowledge of the guests
was being tested. Should a young noblemen have been particularly stumped, they would find the locations of the Italian scenes identified
on the bottom of each piece.
Many of the Italian scenes on the pieces from the Cabinet Service were copied from Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1788) and
Giuseppe Vasi (1710-1782).
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