Russian Glazed Pottery Figure of a Peasant Drinking from a Kovsh

Russian Glazed Pottery Figure of a Peasant Drinking from a Kovsh
Kuznetsov Manufactory, Tver, 1880-1889
Modeled seated beside a barrel, wearing a white tunic, blue pants and lapti, drinking from a wooden kovsh, on an oval base, impressed marks under base, further inscribed Baron de Baye. Height 7 1/2 inches (19 cm).

The inscription on the present lot likely refers to Baron Joseph de Baye (1853-1931), who was sent to Russia by the French government at the turn of the twentieth century to collect ceramics. He built up a considerable collection and sought to share Russian folk art with a Western audience. The Baron and his family bequeathed many pieces to French museums, including the Musée Cernuschi, Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Musée Guimet, Musée du Louvre and the Musée de Sèvres.

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