The Art of Restoration at the Moscow Kremlin Museums

Nautilus (shell) cup
Rotterdam, 1592.
Silver, nautilus shell, precious stones, glass, pearls; embossing, casting, gilding.

From the Armoury Chamber main collection.
Underwent restoration in 2012.
Restorer N. Maresev
Letter to Alexey Nikolaevich
Letter of congratulation from all the officials of the state military corps to Alexey Nikolaevich, the heir to the throne, on the day of Jesus Christ's Resurrection (on Easter Sunday)

Mogilev (?), April, 10, 1916.
Paper, ink, silver leaf painting, bronze leaf painting, whitewash, paint, brocade, taffeta, tinsel threads, metal, silver, colored glass, amethyst; manuscript, drawing, weaving, braiding, casting, embossing, gilding. On the leaft side inscribed with: "PИC. ПPAПОPЩИКЪ П. ПЕPШИНЪ (praporshik P. Pershin)".
Star of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky
Belonged to Emperor Alexander I.
Russia, first quarter of the XIXth century.
Silver, base metal, enamel; punching, embossing, guilloche, filigree.

Received from the Capitulum of Russian Orders in 1917-1923.
Underwent restoration in 2009-2010.
Restorer N. Maresev
Portrait of Patriarch Philaret Nikitich (?)
Russia. 1772.
Oil on canvas.

From the Imperial portrait gallery of the Marble Palace in St Petersburg.
Underwent restoration in 2007-2008.
Restorer A. Rodionov
Uniform caftan
Belonged to Emperor Peter III.
Russia, 1745-1762.
Wool, silver braid; embroidery.

Received from the St. Petersburg Museum of Artillery in 1873.
Underwent restoration in 2010.
Restorer V. Shabelnik
Pall (shrine cover) "Metropolitan Jonah"
Donated by Tsarina Anastasia Romanovna to the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.
Moscow, workshop of Tsarina Anastasia Romanovna, 1549-1552.
Damask - Italy, the XVIth century; blue satin - Russia, the XIXth century; gilt braid - the Orient, XVIth the century; taffeta - the Orient, XVIIth century; red satin - Russia, the XIXth century.
Damask, satin, taffeta, gilt braid, silk and gilt thread; weaving, embroidery.

Underwent restoration in 2002-2006.
Restorer S. Kachalova
Shoulder piece of the sakkos of Metropolitan Alexis
Moscow, the XIVth century; damask cloth - Italy, the late XVth century; embroidery - Moscow, 1364; decorative plaques - Russia, the XIIIth-XVth centuries.
Damask cloth, silk fabric, coarse linen cloth (homespun coloured canvas), gilt and silk thread, pearls, silver, stones; weaving, embroidery, threading, chasing, stamping, gilding, niello, enamel.

Received from the Chudov Monastery (Monastery of the Miracle at Chonae) in 1918.
Underwent restoration in 1984-1987.
Restorers Т. Usacheva (fabric), N. Dolgov, Yu. Osipov (metal).
The sakkos is undergoing restoration, which started in 2003.
Restorers I. Kachanova (fabric), V. Vychuzhanin, V. Jakovlev (metal)
Icon "The Holy Trinity"
Moscow, the late XVth century.
Wood, gesso ground; egg tempera.

From the side Chapel of SS Peter and Paul of the Assumption Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin.
Underwent restoration in 2006-2011.
Restorer I. Gordeeva
Icon "The Nativity of the Virgin with hagiographical scenes"
Mosocw, the early XVIIth century.
Wood, gesso ground; egg tempera.

From the Virgin Nativity Church in the Grand Kremlin Palace.
Underwent restoration in 2006-2011.
Restorer I. Gordeeva
Icon-case (kiot) with painted folds and framed "Christ Pantocrator"
Icon-case - the Volga region, early XVIIIth century; the icon - Russia, the late XVIIth-early XVIIIth century; the cover - Moscow, 1715; craftsman Rodion Nikiforov Pshenichny (?).
Wood, gesso, silver, fabric; egg tempera, chasing.

Received in 1930s from the Main Committee on Museums and Artistic, Historical and Natural Monuments Protection under the People's Commissariat of Education.
The icon is undergoing restoration, which started in 2011.
Restorer S. Cherepanov
Cover from the Icon of Our Lady of Iviron
Moscow, the factory of M.N. Ryndin, 1899-1908.
Silver; enamel on filigree, champlevé, filigree, granulation, openwork, chasing, flat chasing, gilding.

Received in 1971 from the Precious Metals Department of the USSR Ministry of Finance.
Underwent restoration in 2011.
Restorer M. Kruzhalin
Lidded goblet
From the Treasury of Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich.
Augsburg, 1590-1595.
Craftsman Paulus Hübner.
Silver; chasing, casting, flat chasing, gilding.

Underwent restoration in 2007.
Restorer M. Anokhin
Mantel clock
Paris, the XIXth century.
Bronze, iron, wood; casting, inlay, enamel, gilding.

Received from the Palace property.
Underwent restoration in 2008-2009.
Restorer V. Vychuzhanin
Child's saddle
Belonged to Tsarevich Alexey Mikhailovich.
Moscow, workshops of the Stables Office of the Moscow Kremlin, 1642 (?); velvet - the Orient, XVIIth century.
Silver, wood, velvet, leather, braid, birch bark; chasing, gilding, carving, niello, weaving, repoussé.

From the main collection of the Armoury Chamber.
Underwent restoration in 2004.
Restorers S. Matiukhova (fabric), V. Vychuzhanin (metal)
Dagger and sheath
Hilt - India, the XVIIth-XVIIIth centuries; blade - Moscow, the Armoury Chamber, the late XVIIth century.
Craftsman Dmitri Rozhok (blade).
Steel, nephrite, gold, rubies, wood, leather; forging, inlay, flat chasing, carving.

From the main collection of the Armoury Chamber.
Underwent restoration in 2004.
Restorer N. Maresev
Boots of the coronation herald
Russia, the XVIIIth century.
Velvet, silk thread, gilt thread, leather, galloon, braid, cord, ribbon; weaving, embroidery.

From the main collection of the Armoury Chamber.
Underwent restoration in 2007-2008.
Restorer L.A. Barbinova
Pair of saddle pistols
Paris, 1670-1680s.
Craftsman Thuraine.
Steel, iron, wood, horn; forging, engraving, blueing, carving, gilding, inlay.

Received from the St Petersburg Cabinet of Arms (Rüstkammer) in 1810.
Underwent restoration in 2003.
Restorer V. Vychuzhanin.
Horse cloth
Moscow, the Moscow Kremlin workshops, late XVIth early XVIIth century; satin - foreign production, late XVIth - early XVIIth century.
Satin, gilded threads, silk threads, canvas; embroidery, weaving.

The pall is being displayed while restoration, began in 2011. Restorer A. Ryabtsev.
Judas the Prophet
Icon. Moscow, mid XVIth century. Unknown Pskov master.
Wood, canvas, gesso ground; egg tempera.

From the prophets tier of the Moscow Kremlin's Annunciation cathedral iconostasis. The icon is being on display while restoration, began in 2011. Restorer L. Gushchina.
39;s sakkos shoulderpiece
Moscow, 1496-1511; damask cloth - Italy, late XVth - early XVIth century.
Damask cloth, silver, pearls; weaving, embroidery, chasing, gilding.

From the Patriarch's Vestry.
Restoration in 2008-2012 by V. Vychuzhanin (metal), S. Matyukhova (cloth).
Page from the maniscript book
"The Illustrated Description of the Celebration of the Wedding of Tsar and Grand Prince Mikhail Fyodorovich with the Sovereign Tsarina Eudokia Lukianovna from the Streshnevs Family on the 5^th day of February 1626".
Russia, first half of the XVIIIth century.
Paper; drawing ink, watercolour, gouache (?).
Thу book came from the Moscow Diocesan Library in 1881. Restored in 2004-2007. Restorer T.G. Parfyonova.
Page with the image of the genealogical tree of Emperor Paul I
from The Genealogical Book of the Russian Imperial Family.
Saint-Petersburg, 1800.
Parchment, paper; drawing ink, water colour, gouache, melted gold and silver; cover - cardboard, brocade, velvet, silk, gilt and silver threads, spangles; weaving, needlework.
The Book came from the palace property in 1922. Restored in 2006. Restorer T.G. Parfyonova.
Page with the image of the globe
from the collection of the geographical maps of Abraham Ortelius "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum" ("Theatre of the World").
Antwerp, 1572 (?). Paper; printing, etching, watercolours.
Restored in 2007. Restorer T.G. Parfyonova.
Portrait of tsarevitch Peter Alexeevich
(tsarevitch Alexey Alexeevich?)
A.P. Antropov. Russia, 1772. Canvas; oil painting.
From the dynastic portrait gallery of the Marble Palace in Saint-Petersburg. Restored in 2009-2010. Restorer A.V. Rodinov.
Rifled flintlock harquebus
Moscow, the Armoury Chamber, late 1650s - 1660s.
Iron, steel, wood (apple tree), nacre, ivory, horn; forging, carving, inlay, notching, gilding.

From the main collection of the Armoury Chamber. The harquebus is being displayed while resotration started in 2011. Restorer O. Kolikov.
Rundlet of rock crystal
Gift of Constantine Palaiologos to tsar Michael Fyodorovich, 1632.
Istanbul, first third of XVIIth century.
Rock crystal, gold, rubies, emeralds; carving, engraving, braiding.

Restoration 1996-1997 by V. Vychuzhanin.
Sakkos of Metropolitan Dionysius
Moscow, 1583; gilded satin - Turkey, 1570s; damask cloth - Italy, second half of XVIth century.
Gilded satin, satin, taffeta, gold, silver, pearls; weaving, embroidery, niello, enamel, filigree, gilding.

From the Patriarch's Vestry. Restoration in 2001 by V. Shabelnik.
The Presentation at the Temple
Icon with setting.
Mid Rus, second half of XVIth century.
Wood, gesso ground, silver; egg tempera, carving, repoussé, gilding.

Received from the St. Nicholas the Miracle-Worker chapel of Solovetsky Monastery in Rebalda in 1923.
Restauration 1983-2000. Restaurators L. Gushchina (painting), M. Kruzhalin (metall).
The Virgin of Tikhvin with the Trinity and saints in the margins
Icon. Moscow, ca. 1526 (?). Wood, gesso ground; egg tempera.

From the Ss. Peter and Paul annex of the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. Restoration in 1995-1997 by I. Gordeeva.

April, 09 - August, 11, 2013

the Assumption Belfry

Organized by:: the Moscow Kremlin Museums

01# Nautilus (shell) cup The Moscow Kremlin museum school of restoration, having been developed since the XIXth century, has longtime traditions and can be called one of the best in the world. A new chapter in its history, opened in the post-revolutionary years, relates to the establishment of the restoration workshop the Kremlin and the creation of the positions for restorers within the museum. In 1963 the museum saw the foundation of its own restoration workshop and the current jubilee exhibition marks the 50th Anniversary of the the Moscow Kremlin Museums’ Department of Restoration and Conservation.

The exposition, divided into four sections, presents 95 masterpieces, dating from the XIVth to XXth centuries, which have passed through the hands of restorers over the last ten - fifteen years. Each of the four sections is intended to introduce the activities of the museum’s conservation department and its sectors, intended for working with metal, painting, in textile restoration and the restoration of paper, books and graphical materials. Most of the articles are referred to the famous craftsmen and could have been related to distinguished historical figures of the past.

Among various exposed items of great historical and cultural value several masterpieces are considered to be real discoveries thanks to the conservation activities of the museum’s restores, for example “The Holy Trinity” icon, dated to the late XVth century (restorer I.N. Gordeeva), the sakkos of Metropolitan Alexis (restorer I.M. Kachanova), the shoulder piece and embroidered cuffs of the sakkos of Metropolitan Simon (restorers V.A. Vytchuzhanin and S.A. Matiukhova).

The project incorporates a number of monuments that are currently undergoing restoration. All of the presented items reveal a comprehensive scientific approach to the problem of restoration and conservation of artworks, as well as provide noteworthy information on the procedure, methods and techniques, employed by the craftsmen during the restoration process. Modern equipments, spacious workrooms and application of new technologies and innovations of the restoration industry permit the restoration and renovation works to meet the highest professional standards.

Each museum exhibit or monument has a history of its own. The diligence and proficiency of the museum’s researchers and restorers makes it possible to extend the lifetime of the precious exhibits and give us an opportunity to admire the beauty and splendour of the restored items and learn more about our past.

General partner - Rosbank
Partners of the exhibition - Lukoil, Gazprom Export
With support from - Statoil, SNS Group of companies