A RUSSIAN PORCELAIN FIGURE OF A BALALAIKA PLAYER, GARDNER PORCELAIN FACTORY, MOSCOW, LATE 19TH CENTURY realistically modelled, wearing a traditional Russian white shirt with red dots and a red belt, blue breeches, high black boots and black top hat, playing a balalaika, standing in front of a tree stump, on a green grass-like square base, red overglazed Gardner factory mark, numeral 170, and impressed factory mark under base; overall height: 22.5 cm (8 7/8 in.) LOT NOTESLots 276-328 in this auction come from the estate of a prominent New York collector of European heritage. After purchasing his first Gardner figurine more than 20 years ago, he developed an interest in Russian porcelain figures, and amassed a formidable collection over the next two decades, paying particular attention to quality of craftsmanship and authenticity.