Korosten porcelain factory lasted a little more than a century. He survived the October Revolution, and two world wars, and the collapse of the USSR, but could not stay afloat during the economic crisis of the 2000s. We will tell you about the history, products and the most famous products of this plant in our article.
Where is the factory located?
In Soviet times, about forty large porcelain factories worked in the territory of modern Ukraine. The blessing for this was all the necessary conditions: rich deposits of kaolin and quartz, as well as talented artists who skillfully painted finished products. One of them was the Korosten porcelain factory. Alas, in the recent past, it closed, like dozens of other enterprises in this industry.
Where was the Korosten porcelain factory located? The address of the enterprise (or rather, what remains of it): Ukraine, the city of Korosten (Zhytomyr region), 4. Bogdan Khmelnitsky Street, 4. The plant has not been operational since 2012, although its territory is still protected. Some buildings and warehouses looted.
A brief history of the plant
The plant in Korosten was founded in 1909 by the Polish entrepreneur A.K. Przhibylsky. At first, he produced exclusively white dishes, without painting. In the interwar period, he manufactured and supplied products for Turkish and Egyptian customers. During the battle for the city during the Great Patriotic War, the plant was destroyed, but by May 1945 it was completely restored.
In the Soviet years, the Korostensky Porcelain Factory was the leading enterprise in the city. In the 70s, the company started the process of automatic plate production, as a result of which its productivity almost doubled. In the 90s, the plant was transformed into a closed joint-stock company and continued its work.
In connection with the entry of Ukraine into the WTO (World Trade Organization) in 2008, imports of cheap porcelain to the country significantly increased. Like many other enterprises in the industry, the Korostensky factory could not stand the competition and soon closed. All his equipment was dismantled and taken out. Today, from a once powerful enterprise, there was only a small museum located in the local cultural center.
Products and reviews
Korostensky porcelain factory was once the second in the USSR in terms of output (after the famous LFZ). His products were in great demand not only in the Soviet Union, but also beyond its borders. Thus, the plant’s products were exported to thirty countries of the world and repeatedly participated in the prestigious exhibition in Frankfurt, the recognized center of the European porcelain industry.
The reviews of those people who have left the dishes from Korosten at home are only positive. Especially when it comes to products of the Soviet period. The products of the Korosten plant (and this is hundreds of different items) are distinguished by the highest quality of porcelain and highly artistic hand-painted. The enterprise employed real professionals - talented artists I. S. Tkachenko, N. S. Tregubov, D. P. Milinevsky, A. G. Shevchenko, D. A. Nazarov and many others.
Korosten porcelain can be easily distinguished by the brand of the plant. From 1962 until the mid-1990s, the letter “K” was invariably present on it. On the hallmarks of an older period you can see the whole word "Korosten".
The most famous products
Korosten porcelain factory is not only plates, salad bowls, tureens and other utensils for the home. Since the 60s, the company began to produce small plastic - these sculptural masterpieces that have received awards at numerous international exhibitions. In the Soviet years, the sculptors Yatsevich and Tregubova worked at the plant, famous for their unusually lively figures of animals and people.
Perhaps the most famous series of small plastic Korosten plant - "Dances of the peoples of the world." Also quite popular are statuettes “Carmen”, “Solokha”, “Wounded”, sculptural compositions “Vakula and Oksana”, “At Half-Moon” and others. Many people have beautifully painted “Fish-napkin holders” at home, widely produced by the plant in the 50-60s.