Restorers of the Laboratory of Scientific Restoration of Clocks and Musical Mechanisms became Laureates of the State Prize of Russia for Literature and Art 2011

9 June, 2011 restorers of the Laboratory of Scientific Restoration of Clocks and Musical Mechanisms of the State Hermitage Mikhail Gurjev, Valentin Molotkov and Oleg Zinatullin became Laureates of the State Prize of the Russian Federation 2010 for Literature and Art for distinguished contribution in preservation and reconstruction of unique museum clocks and musical mechanisms and revival of Russian masters’ traditions.

The Laboratory of Scientific Restoration of Clocks and Musical Mechanisms of the State Hermitage was established in 1994. It is in charge of the museum collection of clocks and musical mechanisms which is accounted for about 3,000 items. It is the only restoration laboratory in Russia of such profile; its staff holds consultations and renders restoration assistance to museums of Russia and foreign countries.

The Prize Laureates are leading laboratory workers, distinguished professionals: foremost authority in restoration of complicated mechanisms Mikhail Gurjev, scientific supervisor of complex restoration of cases and mechanisms Valentin Molotkov, developer of unorthodox method of computer decipherment of musical mechanisms’ rollers Oleg Zinatullin.

Restoration of clocks and musical mechanisms being in disposal of the State Hermitage collection, demands from its performers vast knowledge of history of arts, highest qualification in clock mechanisms, treatment of metal, wood, bone and other materials, and musical training. Possession of these qualities allows for the laureates to solve the main task: preserving absolute originality and authenticity of the museum item, to inhale life therein, to reconstruct the specific coloring of the monument’s time.

Among the most important and technically complicated restoration works, accomplished by the candidates are tower clock of the Winter Palace (A. Gelfer, Russia, 1837), unique clock Peacock (J. Cox, England, 1779), Peter’s musical clock (G. Thornton, England, 1720), clock-bureau with the pipe organ of I. Strasser (Russia, 1780), complicated clock Clio and Urania (J. A. Lepot, France, 1776), Catherine’s musical alarm clock (Gravel and Tolkien, England, 1792), Big Mechanical Orchestra (I. Strasser, Russia, 1800) and many others. Each item required strictly individual approach and in many cases - development of special methods of restoration.

Staff of the State Hermitage from the heart would like to congratulate the colleagues on the high reward.

Valentin Molotkov

Mikhail Gurjev

Oleg Zinatullin