Sets with hunting plots

One of the most ancient subjects of arts and crafts is hunting. Porcelain products on this topic can be distinguished into a very extensive group. In addition to small plastic items (figurines), hunting motives are most vividly expressed in sets of dining room, tea and coffee tableware - sets.

When the secret of making porcelain was discovered in Saxony, products from China served as a model for artists, therefore, in the early years, the dishes were decorated in an oriental style. But with the development of the industry, European motives, including hunting, are becoming more widespread.

Hunting is a favorite pastime of the European nobility. Scenes with game, hunters, weapons and dogs were often depicted in paintings, miniatures, tapestries. It is not surprising that they "migrated" to the porcelain of the rapidly growing manufactories in Germany, England, France, the Czech Republic, and Russia.

Magnificent sets of the 18th-19th centuries with these subjects are kept in museums, but such tableware decoration is in demand among the mass consumer today. Therefore, factories, using the traditions of classical painting, produce whole series of "hunting" sets.

They are characterized by common features:

• adherence to the style of the 18th-19th centuries: detailing and naturalistic drawing, the inclusion of landscape elements;
• baroque shapes: curved handles, wavy edges;
• noble colors: burgundy, beige, blue, green;
• decoration with gilding and delicate ornamentation.

Services "Hunting" are in the catalogs of manufacturers in many countries:

• UK (Spode);
• France (Gien);
• Germany (Bavarian Porcelain);
• Poland (Cmielow);
• Czech Republic (Thun, Royal Czech Porcelain, Carlsbad, Roman Lidicky, Queen's Crown, Sterne Porcelan, Moravec, Leander, Moritz Zdekauer, Sykora).

For example, kits, conventionally called "Green Hunt", are available from many companies:

• Leander - coffee service of 15 items, dining room "Tsar's Green Hunt" of 25 items and for 12 persons of 43 items;
• Roman Lidicky - coffee, tea and table sets for 6 persons;
• Queen's crown - table service of 27 items.

"Green Hunt" - these are luxurious sets of white and green-painted (often with mother-of-pearl glaze) porcelain. Decorating is done with artistic decal, gold layering and gold printing. The items are decorated with carefully designed images of nature and forest game (hares, foxes, deer, black grouse, pheasants, etc.) and compositions of hunting attributes.

The situation is similar with the Krasnaya Okhota sets - this is a whole series of sets of dishes from different brands, differing from each other only in minimal nuances in shape, decor and patterns.

• Services from Royal Czech Porcelain "Frederica", "Bolero", "Alaska" - this is an elegant tableware lavishly decorated with gold, repeating the curves of products of the Baroque era. The models "Lviv" and "Triangel" are made in the Empire style: objects have more strict forms.
• The Carlsband brand offers the Krasnaya Okhota tea service of 15 items of the "Frederick" shape and a similar dining room of 27 items.
• Even the eponymous service from the German manufacturer Bavarian Porcelain surprisingly similar to the products of Czech factories: a red and white combination, a lot of gold decor and images of animals, made in the same style. A popular model is the "Maria" kit for 6 people. Dinner sets consist of a tureen bowl, a large dish, salad bowls, a gravy bowl, a herring bowl, deep and shallow plates.

The sets of dishes with beige border, generous gold decor and the same pictures of wild game are called "Honey Hunt" (option - "Beige Hunt"). These are the German Maria Teresa table service from Bavarian Porcelain, tea, coffee and table services from Moravec, Sterne Porcelan, Epiag and other brands.

The design of the Czech services "Hunting Plots" from the brands Thun and Leander is more laconic - it is snow-white crockery with a layering of gold, without ornaments and unnecessary decor.

Despite the huge number of Czech porcelain brands, the style of their products is rather monotonous. They are very widespread in the Russian market. Anyone who is looking for something different from the same type of Czech services should pay attention to manufacturers from other countries, however, finding their products will be more difficult.

• English sets from Spode Woodland collection decorated with a classic dark brown floral ornament from 1828, which frames the scenes with animals. In the tea service, images are even applied to the inside of the cups. On sale there is a whole series of individual items with hunting dogs, you can assemble your own set.
• Fradkof brand (France) produces a dinner service (44 items) and a tea service (22 items) "Hunting".
• The famous French factory Gien.

In antique shops and online auctions you can find vintage items, for example, from the English company Myott, the German Lichte (GDR) or the famous French Limoges porcelain. The legendary brand Villeroy & Boch has always paid great attention to the hunting theme, their series Artemis, Diana, Anjou can also be found on special websites and flea markets.