The display presents a wide variety of unique shapes and painted designs of vases produced by the Minsk Porcelain Factory throughout its existence (1951–2009) and designed by artists such as Leanid Bagdanau, Valiantsin Kirylenka, Valery Leantovich, Ganna Litvinenka, Mikalai Mikhalap, Ivan Prokharau, Aliaksei Fiadus, and others.
Mid-20th century marked the inception of production of artistic porcelain and faience in Belarus. A significant role in its development was played by Mikalai Mikhalap, ceramic artist and first director of the State Art Gallery of the BSSR, who became head of the art industry sector of the Architectural Department of the Council of People’s Commissars of the BSSR on 3 September 1945. Minsk Porcelain Factory was one of the new enterprises for mass production of porcelain tableware established in the Soviet Union in the mid-20th century. During the development stage of the factory’s porcelain and faience production, Mikalai Mikhalap served as the sole professional consultant. The factory’s designers had to master new materials and to develop a signature style.
Decorative vases became Minsk Porcelain Factory’s signature product. Ceramic and porcelain vases from the second half of the 20th century are beautifully designed artworks in which silhouette, outline, shape and colour play a special role.
Artworks from the Minsk Porcelain Factory are domestically and internationally renowned. They were often displayed at various multinational exhibitions and won multiple awards. Nowadays, products of the Minsk Porcelain Factory have a special value, as the plant closed down in 2009. Minsk-made porcelain is now a precious rarity.
