Pepo the Fishman Armenian Porcelain Figurine Vintage, Yerevan Faience Factory, Armenian Soviet Porcelain

Vintage Armenian Pepo the fishman figurine made of porcelain/ceramic in 1950s from the Yerevan faience factory during the soviet era, hand painted and the author was Khachatur Mirijanyan from the main character of the play "Pepo" by Gabriel Sundukyan.

Height 24.5cm – 9.64in

Weight 537gr

Pepo is a 1935 Soviet drama film based on Gabriel Sundukyan's 1876 play of the same name, scripted and directed by Hamo Beknazarian, with music composed by Aram Khachaturian. Considered the 'most outstanding' film in Soviet cinema before the outbreak of World War II, the film has gained international recognition and has come to represent Armenian culture abroad.

Set in 19th century Tiflis, the film details the day-to-day life of a poor but honest Armenian fisherman Pepo (Hrachia Nersisyan) who opposes a cunning trader Arutin Kirakozovich Zimzimov (Avet Avetisyan), who has robbed the former by trickery. The story comes to a conclusion of sorts when Pepo falls in love.

Initially there was a small ceramic workshop at the Yerevan cement factory. But in 1947/48 the Yerevan faience factory was created and organized on the basis of the workshop. At first the factory used German shapes and forms.

Only in the end of the 40s the painters came to the factory, these were painter and sculpter R. L. Simonjan (series “Armenian dancing” was her work during 1948-1949) and sculptor-ceramist Vagan Teruni (since 1953 was the floor manager of artistic workshop).

In the 60s new generation of creators came to the factory, among them were D Babajan and A. Chakmakchjan. In 1976 the workshop, which had manufactured figurine, was closed and in 1988 the factory ceased to exist totally.