Help reading a Russian pottery mark, please

[Forum Admin]

We just acquired a plate clearly from about 1800, with the following mark in Russian on the back side.  I can read the "Fabrika" then
 "A Ma?? tssena" ? ? any help would be appreciated as I can't find this mark illustrated anywhere.  I believe that it is mark of the workshop that did the transfer design and other decoration on the front, because the plate itself has the impressed mark of Spode, in England, which I found in books is clearly their mark which was only used between 1780 and 1800.  So clearly the blank plate was imported into Russia and decorated there around 1800.... I just can't make out the name...Thanks.

[Mike]

The mark is "Фабрика А. Матиссена". The Matissens were a large Russian business family of Danish or Swedish descent. They were active in samovar manufacturing, printing, parquette production, glass and pottery etc., in various places including Moscow.

[Forum Admin]

Well, I was close!  Thanks Mike.  What years were the Matissens in business? Would this correspond to the 1800 date for the Spode mark? or was the plate decorated much later on a very old creamware blank?  I tried searching Google but could find no information about them.

Thanks

[Mike]

In this source the Matissen printing and painting factory in Petersburg is mentioned as having ceased existence in 1824.

[Forum Admin]

Then that makes perfect sense! Ochyn Spasiba!

[Mike]

You're welcome, but next time please say Bol'shoye Spasibo/a rather than Ochyn Spasiba ;-). However you may also say Ochen' Blagodaryu Vas =~ Let me thank you very much, which sounds a bit formal.

[Forum Admin]

Oh hell, I'll just stick to English!   My russian is plocha. Here is the front of the plate, if anyone is interested.

[Mike]

Definitely the Alexander I period.

[Constantinople]

intersting historically but a bit monochromatic for my taste.

[David Pritchard]

Beautiful plate! It appears to be in the transfer style made famous by the French factory of Criel et Montereau. As to the Spode impressed mark, if the mark is in upper and lower case letters "Spode" it would have been made before 1805 but if it is in upper case letters "SPODE" it could have been made as late as 1820.  By the way, from the image of the mark that you posted, the pottery body appears to be creamware however, if there is a translucent bluish tint to the glaze where the foot ring meets the underside of the plate it is pearlware instead.

After much searching in one of my Russian language references, I found an 1870's listing for the Fabika Masslenikova in the Moscow Gubnaria. The mark for the factory depicted on a plate is exactly like yours with the circular star mark for Maqselin above the word "SPODE" over the number "15".