AN IMPERIAL PORCELAIN FACTORY ST. PETERSBURG PLATE, 1903, from the Raphael service, centrally

AN IMPERIAL PORCELAIN FACTORY ST. PETERSBURG PLATE, 1903, from the Raphael service, centrally painted en grisaille with a classical female figure holding a wreath, in a shaded burnt orange hexagonal panel, the border painted in colours with a classical frieze, cipher of Tsar Nicholas II below crown to reverse in gilt, 9 1/2" diameter The Raphael Service was commissioned by Alexander III in 1883 for the Tsarskoe Selo Palace and was inspired by Raphael's frescos in the Loggias of the Vatican. The nature of the decoration of this extensive service meant that it was not completed until 1903 when it was delivered to the Palace for the personal use of the Dowager Empress Maria Fedorovna. The fifty place setting service had plates made in five sizes and the patterns created by Leonard Schaufelberger included mythological scenes painted en grisaille bordered by classical ornaments in vivid colours (Est. plus 18% premium inc. VAT) (Illustrated)