You are looking at two porcelain duos that were produced during Soviet Union times around the 1970s by the Riga Porcelain Factory and decorated by the Estonian decoration workshop called ARS.
Duos' quality is 2nd grade, which only confirms the historical records that 2nd and 3rd-grade porcelain was mostly supplied from the Riga Faience and Porcelain factory to ARS.
Unlike the Latvian neighbours, Estonians have never had a porcelain production. All the porcelain that was decorated here was brought to the country from abroad. Initially, Estonians imported the finest undecorated German porcelain, like Rosenthal and Thomas Bavaria. During Soviet times, supply came mainly from Latvia, the Riga Porcelain Factory.
As a brand, ARS has been well known since 1975, when it had studios that produced ceramics, leatherwork, metalwork, textiles, interior design and more. Applied art produced at ARS was highly appreciated by Estonians for their homes but also further afield.
