Russian Gardner Porcelain Cup and saucer

The Gardner Porcelain Factory was founded in 1766 by English banker Francis Gardner. The factory was in Verbilki near Moscow. At the time it was the first private porcelain factory in Russia. By the mid 1775, the Gardner Factory had strted to compete with the Imperial Porcelain Factory following number of private commissions from the Imperial Court including that of Empress Catherine herself. It lasted until l 1892, when it was acquired by M. S. Kusnetsov, who continued the production under the name Kusnetsov Brothers until 1917.