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Restoration of a clock with a figure of Venus Restorers: Valentin Molotkov, Alexei Pestriakov, Konstantin Blagoveshchensky (Laboratory for Scientific Restoration of Sculpture and Coloured Stone) The restoration of a clock with a figure of Venus in the Laboratory for Scientific Restoration of Clocks and Musical Mechanisms required a relatively small amount of work. It did, however, provide a good illustration of a many-sided approach to the task with the goal of returning an exhibit to its original appearance with the mandatory retention of all details. The restoration of the mechanism necessitated the making of replacements for the lost pendulum and fastening nut for the bell, as well as two insertions on the toothed rim of the drive drum, straightening of the drive wheel and soldering of the bell post. While the clock mechanism required quite a lot of work there was nothing fundamentally new about it. Restoration of the case, by contrast, required some serious research. A surviving pre-revolutionary photograph was used to determine the shape and size of the lost legs of the case and the design of the relief on the front plaquette; a clock with a similar plaquette was found in the Hermitage collection; the newly-made legs and copy of the plaquette were chased, gilded and marked (with the Hermitage's mark and the current year). The Laboratory for Scientific Restoration of Sculpture and Coloured Stone recreated in marble the lost part of Venus's left leg. Sadly, due to a lack of data it was impossible to reproduce the goddess's lost silver sandal. On the whole, though, this exhibit has been returned practically to its original condition; the mechanism has been adjusted and is working. |
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