The Hermitage Friends Club Meets

On 19 February, 2003, members of the Hermitage Friends Club met on the occasion of completing the program of restoring the Large Imperial Throne. Guests were welcomed by Mikhail B. Piotrovsky, Director of the State Hermitage Museum. Members of the Friends Club were showed the Large Imperial Throne restored by the Hermitage masters due to financial support of sponsors. The Throne was created in 1731 by the English master Nicholas Clausen to the order of Empress Anna Ioannovna.

The general sponsors of the restoration of the Large Throne were Michael Malzoff and Konstantin Ivanovich Grigorishin, partners of Energy Standard Group. The museum’s Director extended his special thanks to individual members of the Hermitage Friends Club. They came up with support when in the course of the restoration the need arose for additional works which were not provided for in the original estimate. Contributions of the Club’s members allowed restorers to perform the unique work to the full extent.

Custodian of the Throne Marina N. Lopato of the West European Art Department took part in the event. Restorers Vladimir V. Kashcheyev, Aleksey I. Bantikov and Marina V. Denisova showed a film about the restoration works giving their comments.

Mikhail B. Piotrovsky, Director of the State Hermitage Museum

Presentation of the film about the restoration works

At the meeting