Hand-painted enamel on metal with wood backing | Issued by the RSFSR Art Fund | Beryozka Shop Provenance
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Why This Set Matters:
These panels were made during a moment when the Soviet Union was using art and craft to tell a story—not only to its own people but to the world. They celebrate a shared cultural past without aligning to any one ideology, and today they stand as collectible examples of rare Soviet-export design, carefully crafted and preserved.
They are beautiful, yes—but also historically significant.
This exceptional pair of enamel-on-metal art panels, dated 1980, depicts two of the most iconic artifacts of Russian imperial history: the Tsar Bell (Tsar-Kolokol) and the Tsar Cannon (Tsar-Pushka)—both housed within the Kremlin complex in Moscow. These vibrant works are more than decorative art: they are windows into Soviet-era craftsmanship, Russian cultural pride, and state-sanctioned design.
Historical Context:
•The Tsar Bell, cast in 1735, is the largest bell ever made. Though never rung—damaged in a fire—it remains a towering emblem of Russian engineering and artistic ambition.
•The Tsar Cannon, forged in 1586, is one of the largest cannons in the world. Though never fired in battle, it has become a ceremonial symbol of Russian ingenuity.
These two relics of Tsarist splendor became touchstones of national pride during the Soviet era, when artistic depictions like these were commissioned to reflect a culturally rich and powerful Russian identity—distinct from, but in conversation with, the ideological goals of the time.
Provenance & Authenticity:
The reverse of one panel bears its original factory label from the Artistic Fund of the RSFSR (Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic), produced by Workshop No. 1 in Orekhovo-Zuevo, an industrial city known for its fine metal and enamel work.
Even more significantly, the piece retains a Beryozka (Берёзка) shop tag—marking it as part of a limited class of state-approved art pieces sold exclusively in foreign-currency stores.
Beryozka stores were never open to the average Soviet citizen.
Only foreign diplomats, select Soviet officials, and hard-currency holders were permitted to shop there. These stores were designed to project Soviet culture outward to international audiences and were stocked with goods of higher quality and artistic merit.
This provenance makes these panels not just decorative pieces—but rare examples of Cold War-era cultural diplomacy, with a paper trail to match.
Label Translation:
Artistic Fund of the RSFSR
Moscow Region, Workshop No. 1
City: Orekhovo-Zuevo
•Author: Mikryukova
•Article No.: Kremlin B139
•Issued: October 1980
•Original Price: 3 rubles 45 kopecks
•Grade: Third category (indicative of artisan retail production)
•Code: “22 ТМО 1368-100,000-1980” (batch and year identification)
Includes original Beryozka export store stamp.
Condition:
•Excellent vintage condition
•No chips, cracks, scratches, or enamel loss
•Natural patina on the metal frame
•Wood backing is clean and intact
•Label and stamp remain legible and affixed on one of the two panels
•Original D-ring hangers present