This item is a Certificate of Authenticity for a Heinrich porcelain plate titled "Tsarevich Ivan and the beautiful Castle" from the "Russian Fairy Tales" series.

Manufacturer: Heinrich Germany, a subsidiary of Villeroy & Boch.

Artist: Boris Zvorykin.

Issue Date: May 1982.

Limitation: This was a limited edition plate, with a worldwide limit of 27,500 produced.

This plate is made of hard-paste porcelain.

💎 Key Material Features

Manufacturer: Produced by Heinrich Germany, a subsidiary of Villeroy & Boch.

Decoration: Features a high-fire decal of Boris Zvorykin’s artwork.

Finish: Finished with a translucent glaze and trimmed in 24-karat gold.

Durability: Hard-paste porcelain is known for being very dense, white, and resistant to chipping compared to earthenware.

💡 Care Note: Because of the delicate gold trim, this plate should be hand-washed only and never placed in a microwave.

This plate is deeply rooted in Russian culture and Slavic folklore.

Cultural Context

The Story: "Maria Morevna" (also known as "The Death of Koschei the Deathless") is a classic Russian fairy tale. It tells the story of Tsarevich Ivan and his encounter with the powerful warrior-queen, Maria Morevna.

The Art Style: The illustrations on these plates are by Boris Zvorykin, a prominent figure in the "Golden Age" of Russian book illustration. His style is heavily influenced by:

Russian Lacquer Art: Specifically the miniature painting styles from villages like Palekh and Fedoskino.

Byzantine Iconography: Seen in the ornate, gold-heightened borders and formal compositions.

Traditional Folk Art: The use of vibrant colors and intricate patterns found in Russian textiles and architecture.

Visual Elements: The front of the plate typically depicts characters in traditional Russian dress, such as the sarafan (jumper dress) for women and the kosovorotka (side-slit tunic) for men, often set against backdrops of "Old Russia" with its characteristic "onion-dome" architecture.

🎨 Key Artistic Details

Illustrator: Boris Zvorykin (1872–1942).

Style: Late 19th/early 20th-century Russian "Old Style" revival.

Theme: Part of a series celebrating the "Soul of Russia" through its legendary myths.