This magnificent porcelain breakfast and toilette service was one of the many extravagant gifts awarded by Empress Catherine II (reigned
1762–1796) to Count Grigorii Orlov (1734–1783), one of the key figures in the palace coup that placed Catherine on the throne. He was
also her lover and advisor for over a decade, and she showered him with expensive gifts in thanks for the services he rendered her and
Russia. At a time when only the sovereign owned such large, complex porcelain services, this set was a truly extravagant gift, particularly
since shortly thereafter she gave him the grandiose silver service designed by Étienne-Maurice Falconet (1716–1791) and executed by
the Parisian silversmiths Jacques (1707–1784) and Jacques-Nicolas Roettiers (1736–1788/89?) (see lots 8 and 9) and the grand Marble
Palace in St. Petersburg.
The service was commissioned from the Imperial Porcelain Manufactory in the early years of Catherine's reign, in 1765 when Orlov was
appointed Chief of Ordinance and when Catherine reorganized the factory so that it was capable of producing such a large and complex
service with such innovative ornament. In addition to the complex shapes and molding, the service was decorated with gold and silvering,
most of which has now blackened. The service was designed by the multitalented Gavriil Ignat'evich Kozlov (1738–1791); born a serf,
Kozlov went on to become a Professor at the Academy of Arts, Director of the Imperial Tapestry Manufactory and designer of several of
the most important porcelain services produced during Catherine's reign. The service is decorated with the cypher of Count Grigorii
Grigorievich Orlov in interlacing gold Cyrillic letters. On the plates, this cypher is enclosed in a wreath that is tied with ribbons at the top
and surmounted by a nine-point crown of a Count, the title he was given on the day of Catherine's coronation in September 1762. It is one
of the few services produced during the first period of the factory which bears the Imperial Eagle mark.
It has been suggested that the Empress's generosity was an attempt to mollify Orlov, who had wanted to marry her and become Emperor.
Rumors about a possible marriage had nearly resulted in a coup against Catherine in 1763, so it is more likely that these gifts were in
thanks for one of the last great works he accomplished for the nation: the quelling of riots that had erupted after Moscow city government
officials mishandled a serious outbreak of the plague late in 1770. A special commission headed by Orlov managed to restore order and
maintain quarantine areas without ending all trade and church visitations.
The gifts presumably had something to do with his work in Moscow because the Empress also commissioned public monuments lauding
his deeds, including the prominent marble arch designed by Antonio Rinaldi and sited on the road leading to Orlov's estate, Gatchina.
Inscribed in gilt letters on the park side of the arch is the motto: "Moscow was saved from misfortune by Orlov." On the side seen when
approaching the park from the Gatchina road is the gilt inscription: "When in 1771 plague and popular disorder visited Moscow, General
Master of Ordinance Orlov, at his own request, was commanded to go to Moscow, where he restored order and discipline, provided
means of livelihood for orphans, and stopped the fury of the plague by his good institutions."
1762–1796) to Count Grigorii Orlov (1734–1783), one of the key figures in the palace coup that placed Catherine on the throne. He was
also her lover and advisor for over a decade, and she showered him with expensive gifts in thanks for the services he rendered her and
Russia. At a time when only the sovereign owned such large, complex porcelain services, this set was a truly extravagant gift, particularly
since shortly thereafter she gave him the grandiose silver service designed by Étienne-Maurice Falconet (1716–1791) and executed by
the Parisian silversmiths Jacques (1707–1784) and Jacques-Nicolas Roettiers (1736–1788/89?) (see lots 8 and 9) and the grand Marble
Palace in St. Petersburg.
The service was commissioned from the Imperial Porcelain Manufactory in the early years of Catherine's reign, in 1765 when Orlov was
appointed Chief of Ordinance and when Catherine reorganized the factory so that it was capable of producing such a large and complex
service with such innovative ornament. In addition to the complex shapes and molding, the service was decorated with gold and silvering,
most of which has now blackened. The service was designed by the multitalented Gavriil Ignat'evich Kozlov (1738–1791); born a serf,
Kozlov went on to become a Professor at the Academy of Arts, Director of the Imperial Tapestry Manufactory and designer of several of
the most important porcelain services produced during Catherine's reign. The service is decorated with the cypher of Count Grigorii
Grigorievich Orlov in interlacing gold Cyrillic letters. On the plates, this cypher is enclosed in a wreath that is tied with ribbons at the top
and surmounted by a nine-point crown of a Count, the title he was given on the day of Catherine's coronation in September 1762. It is one
of the few services produced during the first period of the factory which bears the Imperial Eagle mark.
It has been suggested that the Empress's generosity was an attempt to mollify Orlov, who had wanted to marry her and become Emperor.
Rumors about a possible marriage had nearly resulted in a coup against Catherine in 1763, so it is more likely that these gifts were in
thanks for one of the last great works he accomplished for the nation: the quelling of riots that had erupted after Moscow city government
officials mishandled a serious outbreak of the plague late in 1770. A special commission headed by Orlov managed to restore order and
maintain quarantine areas without ending all trade and church visitations.
The gifts presumably had something to do with his work in Moscow because the Empress also commissioned public monuments lauding
his deeds, including the prominent marble arch designed by Antonio Rinaldi and sited on the road leading to Orlov's estate, Gatchina.
Inscribed in gilt letters on the park side of the arch is the motto: "Moscow was saved from misfortune by Orlov." On the side seen when
approaching the park from the Gatchina road is the gilt inscription: "When in 1771 plague and popular disorder visited Moscow, General
Master of Ordinance Orlov, at his own request, was commanded to go to Moscow, where he restored order and discipline, provided
means of livelihood for orphans, and stopped the fury of the plague by his good institutions."
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