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Oranienbaum

" То he proud of the fame of one's great ancestors..."

The doors ofthe palaces of reborn Oranienbaum, a suburb of St. Petersburg, were opened for visitors on the day of its 300th An-niversary. Georgiy Poltavchenko, the Governor of St. Petersburg, Vadim Tulpanov, the Speaker ofthe Legislative Assembly, Svetlana Medvedeva, the First Lady of Russia, and Elena Kalnitskaya, the general director ofthe Peterhof State Museum-Pre-serve, took part in the opening ceremony.

Georgiy Poltavchenko thanked the restorers and goldsmiths for laborious and fruitful toil, which brought to life "the gem of not only St. Petersburg but ofthe whole Russia". The Governor cited Alexander Pushkin's lines in his speech, saying that"One not only can but should be proud ofthe fame of one's great ancestors.Those who don't do it are cowards and should be ashamed".

Katalnayagorka Pavilion, a most important architectural monumentfrom the artistic point of viewanda"visitingcard"of Oranienbaum, was festively illuminated during the days when the celebration took place.

The multimedia exposition "Journey Through Space and Time" became the pride ofthe museum. It helped to plunge into the history of the Peterhof road and Oranienbaum, to learn about the history and fates of its owners. The exposition dedicated to the latest owners of Oranienbaum — Dukes of Mecklenburg-Strelitz — was opened in the restored interiors. The celebrations, concerts, receptions and presentations of new museum expositions were organized in honor ofthe anniversary ofthe state museum-preserve. A lot of guests, who visited Oranienbaum during these days, were happy to take part in them.

How Petersburg restorers prepared forthe anniversary ofthe Oranienbaum, celebrated in september this year, the complexity of the work carried out here on the degree of responsibility and professional community for the situation in the market tells restoration council chairman of the union of St. Petersburg restorers prof. Nina Shangin.

— Nina, tell, please, how significant for the restorers of St. Petersburg the anniversary of Oranienbaum is?

— I am reminded of a simple but very revealing story. In the State Museum "Pavlovsk" working artist and restorer of gilding Tatyana Matveyevna Telyukova, one of the most distinguished professionals in St. Petersburg restoration, a living legend who gave more than sixty years of restoration. She began to work in Leningrad during the war. Speaking of his professional life, Tatyana Matveyevna admitted that in 1944, came in for restoration in general, by accident. Seventeen girl could still change her professional choice. But one of the first objects she visited as part of the restoration team, was the Chinese palace in Oranienbaum, which was struck by its beauty just her imagination. It was then that she fell in love with a profession that has become her destiny...

Many restorers have particularly vibrant feelings to this unique palace and park ensemble. This is evident by how enthusiastically and self lessly did our colleagues here an extensive work in recent years.

This story is a clear proof that a unique restoration school in Leningrad-Petersburg exist due to those monuments, which it saves. How much more professional thanks Oranienbaum decided to dedicate his life to the restoration of monuments and became color of the St. Petersburg restoration? We do not know. However, many restorers have particularly vibrant feelings to this unique palace and park ensemble. This is evident by how enthusiastically and selflessly did our colleagues here an extensive work in recent years. Of course, the tercentenary anniversary of Oranienbaum means a lot for us.

— How difficult was this work?

— The task of restorers was to keep the authenticity, but it is always difficult. In Oranienbaum we work with the monuments of architecture of XVIII century, having a high degree of safety by happy coincidence, during the war Oranienbaum suffered less than other museum suburbs.

Moreover, such large-scale restoration for three hundred years of its existence, the museum complex has undergone the first time and have accumulated huge amount of work. Today a significant stage of restoration of the central building of the Grand Menshikov Palace is completed. In the main entrance hall, east and west risolits brickwork, hardwood floors and floors ter-ratso are restored, stucco decoration of columns, arches and plaster layer of walls, plaster and false decoration are renewed; the coloring of walls, ceiling and pilasters is executed.

In the Chinese Palace and the Picture Palace brickwork, interior and exterior plaster moldings were rebuilt, cornices and stucco decoration were restored and facades painting are fulfilled.

For 300th anniversary of Oranienbaum

Today it can be seen with the naked eye that Oranienbaum have changed in recent years. This is the great merit of the St. Petersburg Government, the Committee of Monuments Protection and the administration of State Museum Preserve "Peterhof", of course.

— Restoration companies which are members of the St. Petersburg Restoration Union worked here, didn't they?

-± Exactly companies — members of the Union have done major restoration work here in recent years. "St. Petersburg Restoration Company" works on the restoration of the Chinese Palace, Inc. "Demeter" is the general contractor in the Grand Menshikov Palace. The materials for this work were supplied by company "AzhioProekt". And the materials often had to be created or adapted specially for the ensemble of Oranienbaum. For example, a special lime-gypsum composition was developed for the thick-walled stucco layout.

Permanent partnership relations given for companies from the joint membership in the St. Petersburg Restoration Union create additional conditions for successful work. Exchange of scientific experience, conferences and master classes are mutually beneficial to materials producers and contractors.

— Has the St. Petersburg Restoration Union any effective mechanisms for quality control?

— Of course. The guaranteeing of quality is one of the main goals of the Union. Over ten years of our non-government organization existence we work on creation of relationships between the companies, which would provide high quality restoration work. We have the Code of conduct for restorers and work out arrangements to providing

its observation. We have the Commission of quality and a rigorous system of accedence the Union for new companies. Today to be member of the Union is very prestigious for any restoration organization, but we don't accept all. To get to Union restorers must have a really excellent reputation.

— Do you feel supported by the city government?

— Of course. Since the relevant committees of the city government in the Union has established permanent partnerships. Without that support, which in all undertakings providing us KGIOP, we would not have achieved such success. In KGIOP there is a team of true professionals, genuinely interested in preserving the cultural heritage of St. Petersburg. In the restoration it can not work in isolation, only the interaction between government, business and the public can lead to serious positive results.

The guaranteeing of quality is one of the main goals of the Union. Over ten years of our non-government organization existence we work on creation of relationships between the companies, which would provide high quality restoration work.