Vintage Soviet Carp Family Fish Set, Porcelain Decanter with 3 Small Fish Cups, USSR Folk Art, 1970s

A charming and instantly recognizable piece of Soviet-era decorative porcelain: the famous “Carp Family” fish set, featuring one large fish-shaped decanter and three smaller matching fish cups.

The set has that wonderfully nostalgic look of vintage Soviet display pieces — glossy white porcelain, deep cobalt blue accents, bright red details and touches of gold. The large fish has its original stopper with a rounded gilded top, making it especially eye-catching when displayed.

This listing includes 4 pieces in total:
1 large fish-shaped decanter with stopper
3 small matching fish cups
Large fish height: 26 cm / 10.24 in
Small fish height: 8 cm / 3.15 in
The traditional “Carp Family” service was originally made as a fish-shaped decanter with matching small fish cups and became one of the most recognizable Soviet-era porcelain souvenir and barware designs.

A Little History
The design has an interesting Ukrainian and Soviet porcelain history.
The original fish-shaped service was created in Riga in the 1950s, associated with Georgian artist Abessalom Baramidze. In 1962, Ukrainian artist Mykola Bobyk, working at the Polonne Artistic Ceramics Factory in Ukraine, adapted the earlier Riga design, changed its proportions and decoration, and helped launch a version for mass production.
Similar “Carp Family” sets were subsequently produced by several porcelain and ceramics factories across the USSR. In Ukraine, major production was associated with the Polonne Artistic Ceramics Factory in Polonne, Khmelnytskyi region, and the Horodnytsia Porcelain Factory in Horodnytsia, Zhytomyr region.
Because this particular set does not show a clearly identifiable factory mark in the available photos, the exact manufacturer cannot be confirmed. It is best described as a vintage Ukrainian/Soviet “Carp Family” set.
The design is particularly interesting because these pieces were often bought as decorative souvenirs and displayed proudly in Soviet-era glass cabinets and sideboards. Similar examples remain popular with collectors of Soviet porcelain, Ukrainian ceramics and unusual vintage barware.

Condition
The set is in used vintage condition, with visible age-related wear to the painted and gilded decoration.
One of the three small fish has a small chip on the mouth, clearly visible in the photographs. Please examine the photos carefully, as they are part of the condition description.
There is also some natural wear to the gold and painted details consistent with age and previous display/use.

The remaining pieces have the expected minor signs of age and handling. No attempt has been made to make the set look artificially “new” — it is offered in its genuine vintage, as-found condition.

Why It’s Special
This is not just ordinary vintage tableware. The fish-shaped form is one of the most recognizable examples of Soviet decorative porcelain design and has become a nostalgic collectible associated with the classic Soviet sideboard interior.

A fun piece for:
Soviet and Ukrainian porcelain collectors
Vintage barware collections
Mid-century and retro interiors
Folk-art and kitsch displays
Vintage fish and nautical collections
Photography and film props
Collectors of unusual Eastern European ceramics
A nostalgic decorative accent for a vintage-inspired home

Please note: This is a partial 4-piece set, consisting of one large fish decanter and three small fish cups. The traditional complete versions were often made with more small fish cups. Only the pieces shown in the photographs are included.
A wonderfully quirky piece of Soviet-era design with plenty of character — the kind of vintage object that immediately makes people ask, “What on earth is that?” and then want to know the story behind it.

Materials: porcelain, glaze, hand-painted decoration, gilding
Era: Soviet era, approximately 1960s–1980s
Origin: USSR / Ukraine, exact factory unconfirmed
Set: 4 pieces total
Large fish: 26 cm / 10.24 in
Small fish: 8 cm / 3.15 in
Condition: vintage, used, with visible wear and one small chip to the mouth of one small fish

I try to do my best to represent the item's true color in the pictures, but the colors may vary slightly due to differences in monitor calibrations.

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Please be aware that shipments to Italy and Austria are currently experiencing delays due to customs processing. Orders are shipped on time, but delivery may take longer than expected. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

***Shipping information***
Order will be shipped within 2-3 working days after payment is received. I'll provide the tracking number to you when the item is shipped. Please note that I ship from Ukraine and average time of delivery is 2 weeks but there can be delays while Custom process.

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