In merchant households, good tableware was a sign of wealth and prosperity. It was used not only for its intended purpose, but also as a piece of interior decoration for drawing and dining rooms. 150 years ago, faience and porcelain tableware enjoyed great popularity in the Russian Empire. Seeking to recreate the appearance of a merchant’s house, the Tomsk History Museum has several examples of such items on display, among which is a tray that was used for serving alcohol at evening parties. For the sake of convenience, shot and wine glasses were arranged on the tray in a single row, hence its elongated rectangular shape.

The tray is made of faience. This material is heavier and has thicker walls than porcelain. In porcelain, thin, translucent walls are considered particularly stylish, while faience products are quite massive. Additionally, faience is not pure white in color, it always has a tint. For instance, the tray from our collection has a milky brown hue. Conversely, colored porcelain is quite rare, as it is normally white. The tray’s surface is webbed with cracks: however, this is not a defect, but rather a natural process signifying the old age of the material. Such cracks do not appear in porcelain.

Researchers were unable to identify what factory produced the tray, as it does not have the manufacturer’s print on the bottom. However, the general appearance of the item suggests that it was manufactured by the Germany-based Max Dannhorn company (M& D). This factory was founded in Nuremberg in 1872. It became famous for its signature tableware made of wood and brass, as well as items combining several different materials. Most often, the factory’s artisans created products with a glazed ceramic base and a metal frame plated with a thin layer of silver. Ceramic elements were almost always ordered from the Villeroy & Boch company.

After the end of World War I, M& D’s business began to decline. A significant portion of its shares was acquired by another company, which continued to manufacture the same products under its own name.