A Lomonosov Russian porcelain vase, dated 1956, painted with an oval panel depicting The Admiralty Building, Saint Petersburg (formerly Leningrad), within an elaborate oak and laurel leaf wreath, opposing a laurel branch and flanked by Russian text, the foot modelled as three corn stooks with gilt details raised on a trefoil base, blue printed mark to base, height 48cm, with a velvet lined fitted wooden box. Note: this vase was presented to the Manchester branch of the British-Soviet Friendship Society in July 1956 by the Executive committee of the Leningrad Council of Workers. At that time the current vendor's father was Chairman of the Society. The British-Soviet Friendship Society was formed in 1946 to promote political and cultural links between the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union. Manchester and Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) became twinned cities in 1962.