Museums of Russia: Musical, time, animation mechanisms of the XVII-XIX centuries from the collection of the State Hermitage Museum are presented in Saint-Petersburg

December 9, 2015 in the Blue Bedroom of the Winter Palace (the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg) was opened an exhibition "Mechanical wonders. Music, time, animation mechanisms of the XVII-XIX centuries from the State Hermitage collection".  

As part of the exposition were presented a variety of works for its intended purpose - clocks and musical mechanisms, unique pieces of furniture with the secrets, samples of jewelry. Created in Western Europe and Russia in the XVII-XIX centuries, they reflect not only the level of the technical achievements of his time, but also fashion hobbies, ambitions and fantasies of customers and performers.

The works of Western European and Russian masters of arts and crafts, including masterpieces by recognized mechanics of the past and the product of unknown authors are presented. Many of the works are on display for the first time.

A significant number of exhibits during the second half of the XVIII-XIX centuries were in the imperial collections in the Treasure Gallery, residential quarters and halls of the Winter Palace. Other works entered the Hermitage after the events of 1917 from the St. Petersburg aristocratic collections. Some items have become part of museum collections in the second half of the XX century.