Vintage Soviet Polonsk Porcelain Bear: Dynamo Soccer Player (1980s Olympic Era)

Product Details

• Product Type: Vintage Porcelain Figurine / Statuette
• Brand/Manufacturer: Polonsk Art Ceramics Plant (Polonnoye ZHK)
• Character: Anthropomorphic Bear / Football Player
• Theme: Sports Memorabilia, Soviet Kitsch, Olympic Era
• Affiliation: "Dynamo" Sports Society (marked with 'D' logo)
• Material: Hard-paste Porcelain, Glazed, Hand-painted
• Origin: Polonnoye, Ukraine (USSR)
• Era: Circa 1970s–1980s
• Dimensions: Approximately 11 cm (4.3 inches) tall
• Condition: Vintage (Pre-owned)

Overview

Step back in time to the height of Soviet sporting culture with this charming Vintage Soviet Porcelain Bear Figurine. Produced by the renowned Polonsk Art Ceramics Plant in Ukraine during the late 1970s or early 1980s, this figurine captures the spirit of the era perfectly. The piece depicts a friendly bear—a cultural icon of the region—standing proudly with one paw raised in a greeting or signal, while the other rests confidently on a classic soccer ball.

Uniquely, the bear’s chest is emblazoned with a gold-tone cursive "D" inside a diamond, the emblem of the famous Dynamo (Dinamo) Sports Society. This piece was likely released as part of the massive wave of merchandise celebrating sports leading up to the 1980 Moscow Olympics. It serves not just as a decorative item, but as a tangible piece of history, representing the intersection of folk art and Soviet athletic pride.

Product Features

• Craftsmanship: Made from high-quality Soviet porcelain with a glossy glaze finish.
• Design: Features the classic "Olympic Misha" style bear, synonymous with the 1980 Moscow Games.
• Detailing: Hand-painted accents in natural browns, with a distinct black nose and eyes, and gold/yellow detailing for the Dynamo logo.
• Pose: Dynamic sporting pose featuring a soccer ball (football) under the left foot.
• Markings: The bottom is stamped with red production marks, specifically "1-10," indicating the quality grade or price code common in Soviet manufacturing.

Interesting Facts

• The Dynamo Connection: The "D" logo represents the Dynamo Sports Society, which was one of the largest and most successful sports organizations in the USSR. It produced legendary football clubs like Dynamo Kyiv and Dynamo Moscow.
• The Olympic Bear: While this bear wears a Dynamo logo, its facial structure and friendly demeanor are heavily influenced by "Misha," the mascot of the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Misha was the first mascot of a sporting event to achieve such massive commercial success in merchandise.
• The Manufacturer: The Polonsk Art Ceramics Plant (Polonnoye, Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Ukraine) was one of the major centers of porcelain production in the Soviet Union. Known for their "small plastics" (figurines), their works are highly prized by collectors today for their distinct style and cultural relevance.
• Symbolism: In Soviet culture, the bear represents strength and power, while the football theme highlights the immense popularity of soccer in the USSR.

Manufacturer / Origin

Polonsk Art Ceramics Plant (ZHK) - Polonnoye, Ukraine.

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Russian Translation (Русский перевод)

Обзор Окунитесь в атмосферу советского спорта с этой очаровательной винтажной фарфоровой статуэткой медведя. Изготовленная на знаменитом Полонском заводе художественной керамики (Украина) в конце 1970-х – начале 1980-х годов, эта фигурка прекрасно передает дух той эпохи. Медведь изображен в позе футболиста, уверенно опирающегося ногой на футбольный мяч. На груди медвежонка изображена золотая буква «Д» — эмблема спортивного общества «Динамо», что делает эту статуэтку редким и интересным экземпляром для коллекционеров.

Интересные факты

• Общество Динамо: Логотип «Д» относится к спортивному обществу «Динамо», одному из крупнейших в СССР, известному своими легендарными футбольными клубами.
• Олимпийский Мишка: Дизайн медведя перекликается с образом Олимпийского Мишки, талисмана Олимпиады-80 в Москве.
• Производитель: Полонский завод художественной керамики был одним из ведущих центров фарфорового производства в Советском Союзе, известным своими качественными и душевными фигурками.