The RUSSIAN LEGENDS OF THE FIREBIRD  twelve-plate series depicts twelve major chapters in the legend of The Firebird. The style is patterned after the designs found on Russian lacquer boxes from the village of Palekh.

The plates were produced with up to 17 layers of colored pigments on black lacquer with 18 kt gold details. The plates were handcrafted at the historic Leningrad Porcelain factory and were distributed by the Bradford Exchange for Tianex. Each plate has been assigned an individual Bradex number. The plates are 7 1/2" (19cm) in diameter and are not suitable for food service. The reverse is written in Russian describing the title, story and serial number. Each plate comes in a custom fitted box with a parchment-material single page Certificate of Authenticity, a foldout in Russian and a foldout in English. The handouts are specific to each plate.

The story told by the plates is of the quintessential legend of The Firebird. There is no more famous story in all Russian literature, indeed, the world knows this to be so.

Plates 1 through 7 were released in 1990 and plates 8 thorough 12 were released in 1991.

     

     


In order of release the plates are:

         1.   The Tsarevich and The Firebird
                Bradex 60-L55-1.1

         2.   Princess Elena and Ivan
                Bradex 60-L55-1.2

         3.   The Wedding Feast
                Bradex 60-L55-1.3

         4.   Elena the Fair
                Bradex 60-L55-1.4

         5.   The Golden Bridle
                Bradex 60-L55-1.5

         6.   The Golden Cage
                Bradex 60-L55-1.6

         7.   Awaiting The Firebird
                Bradex 60-L55-1.7

         8.   Ivan's Conquest
                Bradex 60-L55-1.8

         9.   The Magnificent Firebird
                Bradex 60-L55-1.9

        10.  The Journey of Tsarevich, Ivan and Princess Elena
                Bradex 60-L55-1.10

        11.  In Search of The Firebird
                Bradex 60-L55-1.11

        12.  Ivan and the Grey Wolf
                Bradex 60-L55-1.12


These pieces are offered year around and frequently sell at prices below the original subscription prices of $35 and later at $40. The original set sold for $440 in total. Pictures are usually available in each listing. ebay has a limit on the number of images in a Guide so all twelve cannot individually be pictured here.

Complete sets in boxes with papers have sold for $132.75 as recently as April 2008. That averages to just over $11/each! It pays to check the listings on a regular basis.

If you have a plate but do not have the documentation, the name of the plate can be discovered by looking at the Bradex number near the bottom and then comparing it with the listing above.

A word of caution:
This set is very similar to other unrelated sets featuring various Russian legends and fairy tales. The sets are the same size and of the same overall design. All of the sets have a different Bradex numbering sequence. The letter in the sequence is the most important.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

I am not a dealer and I do not sell.

Ralph Vaughan