SLK 00138

RARE Soviet Leader Malenkov Silk

This is a most unique and rare silk in that it does not feature a Chinese leader, but rather the actual successor to Stalin in the USSR - Georgi Maksimilianovich Malenkov. It is simply a fantastic example that probably was produced somewhere between 1953 and 1955, during the short tenure of his premiership. Also showing it's age is the fact that traditional Chinese characters were used rather than the later developed simplified characters.

A little bit of background for Malenkov: In 1946, he became a full member of the politburo and a deputy premier. He succeeded Stalin as premier in Mar., 1953, and was also very briefly first secretary of the Communist party. However, Nikita Khrushchev replaced him as party head. Malenkov's premiership was marked by a conciliatory foreign policy and by the curtailment of the power of the secret police. In Feb., 1955, he was forced to resign, assuming blame for the failure of the government's agricultural policy; he was succeeded by Nikolai Bulganin, whom Khrushchev supported for the post. In 1957, Malenkov was removed from all important posts for his role in the “antiparty faction” opposing Khrushchev. He was expelled from the party in 1961.

This silk has been hand painted and is in very good condition with no holes or tears. It is marked on the back as being 10 x 15 inches, which is the actual size of the portrait without the border. The bottom of the silk indicates that it was made in Hangzhou Dujinsheng Silk Factory.

Price: US $275 SOLD

Item location: Beijing, China

Air Postage & Insurance: US $5