In the 1930s, ceramic production was influenced by politics more than ever before. During this time, some of the new items in the households of Taganrog residents reflected the active development of Soviet society. One of the most prominent examples was propaganda porcelain and faience. Such tableware was expected to contribute to the upbringing of the New Soviet person.
Porcelain and faience plates, bowls, and sugar basins were typically decorated with colorful printed images, depicting state symbols, portraits of revolutionary figures, scenes of industrialization, collectivization, and the formation of the Soviet military and navy.
Often, the images were accompanied by slogans appealing to the audience. These slogans were supposed to remind people of the new ambitious goals and ideas of the Soviet Union, inspiring them to fight for such ideas.
One of the major centers of porcelain and faience production was the factory in Dulyovo, near Moscow. It was founded by Terenty Yakovlevich Kuznetsov in the 19th century. In 1918, the company was nationalized, and the craftsmen began using domestic materials and new equipment. In the 1930s, the propaganda faience from Dulyovo became known across the Soviet Union.
The museum houses a shining example of propaganda products — a faience plate “For Complete (Collectivization)” produced at the Dulyovo Porcelain Factory. The plate features the beginning of the slogan “For Complete” written in red paint.
Next to the inscription, at the top of the plate, there is an image of two tractor drivers in red clothes against a blue background. The image was applied to the plate using the decal method. The drawing was transferred onto the product’s surface with the aid of heat. During this process, the pigment “fuses” with the surface, giving the paint durability and protecting the images from fading.
The colorful images with scenes of the new Soviet life, revolutionary slogans, and national symbols, appealed to all people instead of just the rare connoisseurs of decorative porcelain and faience.
