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KuznetsovyPorcelain dynasty
Country:
 Russia |
Content:
- The Kuznetsov Porcelain Dynasty
- Founder of the Dynasty
- Terenty Takes the Helm
- The Expansion of the Dynasty
- Matvey - The Heir
- Monopoly and Legacy
- Acquiring Gartner's Factory
- Expanding the Empire
- Monopoly and Success
- Legacy and Remnants
The Kuznetsov Porcelain Dynasty
The legends about the origins of many fortunes in Russia are shrouded in mystery. Over time, these legends have become more and more horrifying, haunting the descendants from generation to generation, forcing them to either hide the sins of their ancestors or squander millions of rubles, or even take monastic vows. The Kuznetsov porcelain dynasty was no exception.
Founder of the Dynasty
The founder of the Kuznetsov dynasty, Yakov Kuznetsov, was not a man who reached for the stars. Like any ordinary man, he was thrifty, saving every penny and living not only off the land he worked. His huge house, with a smoky forge, stood on the outskirts between the villages of Rechitsa and Novokharitonovo. The local people would come here to have their horses shod, borrow scythes, axes, and wagon axles. They would also stay overnight, as the host always had plenty of food, drinks, and snacks. Yakov's sons, Terenty and Akim, would serve food until the early morning hours. Perhaps it was because of these nightly revelries that rumors began circulating that Yakov Vasilyevich had either killed and robbed a wealthy merchant in his own home or on a secluded forest road. Whether this was true or not, Yakov and his sons soon began building an unprecedented structure on the banks of the Dorka River near the village of Gzhel. Hardly had the sound of axes ceased, when the carpenters were replaced by masons. Wagons carrying bricks, clay, and spar kept coming until late into the night. Then, fiery whirlwinds rose into the sky from the chimneys of two furnaces. This marked the beginning of the first Kuznetsov porcelain factory, two years before Napoleon's invasion in 1810. No one knows who or how Yakov was convinced to venture into porcelain, of which he had no knowledge.
Terenty Takes the Helm
Two years later, Terenty became the head of the enterprise. He was no longer satisfied with his father's primitive furnaces. The new factory was to be established not in Gzhel, but in a place where workers could be paid less and there were plenty of forests. These wastelands near the village of Likino, owned by the impoverished landowner Sarychev, turned out to be the perfect location. Terenty bought them and began preparing for a major construction project. A turning point for Terenty Kuznetsov came in 1832 when the factory in Dulevo started operating. It already had a picturesque workshop, sorting rooms, and spacious warehouses. Everything seemed fine, but Kuznetsov faced competition from the factory owned by A.G. Safonov from the village of Korotkovo, with its talented painting masters. They possessed the secrets of making colors and porcelain paste. They used vibrant and rich tones such as cobalt blue, pink, yellow, and dark maroon. And also light brown.
The Expansion of the Dynasty
Later, their technology was described as follows: "First, the master would cover the entire piece with a thin layer of paint, then he would remove the white reserve stripes left for painting. Gold was used for finishing expensive dishes: bright, polished, and matte with a high content of precious metal. Engraving was done with a hard agate. And then, every detail of the bright painting, the delicate pattern, the beautiful ornamentation "could be read". Terenty Kuznetsov did not have enough time to master this art in his lifetime, so he often visited Safonov until he finally leased and then bought his production. He expanded it, and the number of workers reached 400. The owner of all this wealth was Terenty's son, Sidor Kuznetsov. He closed the factory in Korotkovo and transferred the craftsmen to Dulevo.
Matvey - The Heir
In addition to this enterprise, the younger Kuznetsov owned a porcelain and faience factory in Riga, where mass production of tableware was carried out. Craftsmen from Gzhel worked there. Sidor Kuznetsov gradually prepared to pass his possessions on to his son Matvey. Business acumen was instilled in Matvey from childhood, and he was educated in various subjects at home. At the age of 15, his father sent him to Riga to study the intricacies of porcelain production and management. In addition to his home education, Matvey attended a commercial school in Riga. He got married at the age of 19 and became the proud father of seven sons and one daughter. His main goal was to unite all private porcelain factories in Russia. However, it was not easy to defeat successful competitors. In the Tver province, there was an excellent enterprise owned by A.Ya. Auerbach, employing 7,000 workers. They created unique works, especially exquisite cutlery adorned with plant ornaments. When you opened the lid of a soup tureen, maple or oak leaves would sway on the bottom. The peak of the artists' creativity was the service made for the best palace in Tver. Matvey managed to buy this factory and immediately began to rebuild it. The number of workers doubled. By the second half of the 19th century, Matvey Kuznetsov became the largest supplier of porcelain, faience, maiolica, and other products on the global market. Unlike many heirs who squandered their ancestors' wealth, the Kuznetsov family continued to work diligently from generation to generation.
Monopoly and Legacy
Matvey Kuznetsov owned 18 of the best enterprises in Russia. In 1889, the "M.S. Kuznetsov Porcelain and Faience Production Company" was established with its headquarters in Moscow. However, the ultimate goal had not yet been achieved. The famous F. Gartner enterprise became a thorn in Matvey's side. Merchant Francis Yakovlevich Gartner arrived in Russia from England in 1746. He established a porcelain business in the village of Verbilki on the lands of Prince Urusov. His tableware with light green and gray-green paintings, combined with red or light yellow, gained fame throughout Europe and competed with the products of Saxon masters.
Acquiring Gartner's Factory
Suddenly, Gartner's business began to decline. There were rumors that Matvey Kuznetsov had something to do with it. Whether this was true or not, in April 1892, the Gartner factory became his property. People asked Matvey how he managed to "kill" Gartner, and he jokingly replied, "First, my grandfather used an axe to kill the merchant, and with a knife, it's easier. Gartner didn't even squeak." He presented the story of his ancestor in such a way that no one believed it anymore. Matvey outwitted his competitors.
Expanding the Empire
The acquisition of Gartner's factory cost 238,000 rubles. Together with the factory, 300 acres of land were acquired. All the factory models, molds, designs, and samples were purchased for 5,000 rubles. After acquiring the factory and land, Kuznetsov also bought the famous Gartner brand along with its trademark. A special agreement was even concluded, allowing Kuznetsov to use the former owner's coat of arms, brand, awards, and exhibition medals on his products, signs, and invoices.
Monopoly and Success
Thus, Kuznetsov became the monopolist in the porcelain industry. Two-thirds of all products belonged to him. Porcelain stoves, adorned with traditional Russian lubok-style tiles, became particularly popular. These stoves turned into genuine works of art and home decorations.
Legacy and Remnants
The Kuznetsov porcelain is no longer found in homes; only museums preserve its legacy. The Tver museum houses a beautiful collection of cups, plates, dishes from Kuznetsov's service, fish molds, cheese trays, butter dishes, and boxes. The Novodevichy Convent and the Kolomenskoye Museum have preserved fireplace tiles, which are a sight to behold. The collective panel "Firebird," which once adorned the fireplace in the Kuznetsov house on Basmannaya Street, is also kept there. It shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow.
Regarding Dulevo, it caught the attention of the Americans. Joint production was planned, but it didn't work out. The dispute dragged on for years, and its outcome remains unknown.
