Miniature reproductions of portraits and sculptures of Lenin and Stalin from All-Union Folk Art Exhibition, 1939, the year of Stalin's 60th birthday and grandiose opening of the VSKhV Exhibition.
The size of each miniature is approx. 3" x 4". The collection comes in the original packaging folder with a flap closing it on the back. The front cover has the customary dual profiles of Stalin and Lein and the title, All-Union Exhibition "Lenin and Stalin in Folk Art". Published by the Krupskaya All-Union House of Folk Arts", circulation 30,000. The information insert states that the collection contained fourteen miniatures. One of them is missing. An interesting ratio of Stalin to Lenin is evident: to ten miniatures of Stalin there are only three of Lenin, including one of young boy Lenin (then Ulyanov, of course) listening to his mother playing the piano. Each miniature is captioned on the verso with the name of the work, the name of the artist and his or her professional occupation. Apparently, the sculpture of Lenin reading something was made by a collective farmer, the statuette of Stalin and Voroshilov in Budyonovka soft helmets was made by a factory worker, the bust of young Stalin - by an economist, etc., etc. To quote the informational insert, "Folk artists express deep feelings of love and devotion to Lenin and Stalin, the Communist Party, and our country."
The set is in very good to excellent condition. The outer surfaces of the presentation folder show moderate age-toning, some soiling, some scribbled math and a red stain resembling a smear of lipstick or grease pencil, as well as a crease and a rip at the upper right-hand corner. The description of the wear sounds much worse than it looks. The informational insert and, more importantly, all the miniatures are in excellent condition: clean and free of wear of any kind. Their reverse side is just mildly and evenly age-toned.
The year of issue of this set, as the art exhibition itself, maybe even the grand opening of VSKhV too, were probably expressions of Stalin's cult of personality, so in the year of his sixtieth birthday the country was in the throes of sycophantic desire to please the Great Helmsman, Father of All Nations, etc., etc., etc.
Please note that the penny in our photo is for size reference.
Item# 43889
$90.00 Add to cart