Cobalt cookware: features and history of origin

Cobalt dishes are tea sets, individual cups, plates, dishes and even figurines made of high quality porcelain. A distinctive feature of this kitchen utensil is the characteristic dark blue coating of cobalt paint and gold painting, which is unique to it. The dishes themselves and the patterns applied to it, by their origin, go back to the distant past.

The metal extracted from cobalt minerals formed the basis of paint for painting dishes. It happened back in the 18th century. The Chinese were the first to try to use cobalt in porcelain production. It is the dark blue color and its shades that give objects volume and special depth. The experience of the Chinese was immediately adopted by many European countries, including Russia.

The Imperial Porcelain Factory was built during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in 1744. This enterprise is one of the largest manufacturers of porcelain products not only in Russia, but also in Europe. After 152 years of its work - after the change of power - it was renamed the State Porcelain Factory. After another 8 years, it began to be called LFZ - Leningrad or Lomonosov Porcelain Factory. This continued until 2005. Then it returned to its original name, it became Imperial again.

Novgorod was also famous for its pottery and glass production. 6 factories successfully functioned in the province. All these successful enterprises belonged to the merchant Ivan Yemelyanovich Kuznetsov, and later to his descendants. The Bronnitskaya factory worked with the highest productivity, which after 1921 became known as the Proletary factory.

In 1966 the enterprise renewed its equipment and became known as the Vozrozhdenie plant. His dishes were famous for their quality and uniqueness of patterns, while the products were completely covered with cobalt with gold painting. It was painted only by hand by the pupils of the Mukhinsky school from St. Petersburg. They also created the sketches of the models. Clay for porcelain products was delivered from Ukraine, gold for painting - from the Moscow region. Several types of products were cast from blue porcelain:

• tea sets;
• dishes of various shapes and configurations;
• figurines;
• souvenirs in the form of local attractions.

The "cobalt mesh" is deservedly considered the hallmark of Russian porcelain (more precisely, LFZ). For the first time, the pattern was invented and applied to a tea set by the artist Anna Yatskevich. It happened in 1944, when the blockade of Leningrad had just been lifted.

To create the pattern, Anna was inspired by the sad events she experienced: the light of the air defense searchlights reflected in the windows sealed with crosses, the death of her loved ones. It was in this drawing that the artist put her hope for a happy future. I believe that people will never see searchlights cutting through the sky again, so that while admiring this pattern, they remember the price of Victory. The blue cobalt mesh on a white background is enhanced by gold painting.

The first tea set with gilding, painted with the famous cobalt net, is called "Tulip". Initially, this pattern was not universally accepted. It gained popularity after 1958. It was then that at the World Exhibition in Brussels, the LFZ was awarded a gold medal for a service decorated with a cobalt net. The corporate logo of the plant was also designed by Anna Yatskevich, it is still used today.

The color of cobalt patterns depends on the thickness of the paint layer - the thicker it is, the darker the smear. According to some reports, the Chinese were able to distinguish 7 shades of cobalt, and there are only 4 of them on Russian-made dishes. The difficulty lies in the fact that it is impossible to see the color of the product before firing. When applied, the paint is of a dark gray hue, and acquires a blue color only after two firing sessions. That's why matching the color scheme of the finished product with the artist's sketch completely depends on the experience and professionalism of the master.

The cobalt pattern is applied to the dishes using the underglaze method. Then the product is fired at a temperature of 850 ºС. After that, the surface is covered with a special glaze and the firing process is repeated, but at a higher temperature - about 1350 ºС. The final stage is the application of overglaze painting, and this is done most often in gold or silver.

Dark cobalt blue combined with gold against a white translucent porcelain background is a win-win combination and a source of pride for the hostess. The special sophistication of the tableware is given by the presence of textured edging. In order for the products to be the subject of the admiration of guests for as long as possible, you need to adhere to simple rules for caring for them.

• Such dishes should be washed by hand, without the use of aggressive chemicals and abrasive agents.
• If you still use a dishwasher, then only on a gentle mode and at a minimum temperature.
• Use in the microwave is strictly prohibited.

For more information on how porcelain tableware with the famous Cobalt Net decor is produced, see the following video from the Imperial Porcelain Factory.