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Als Uhrenrestaurator im Museum Peterhof St. Petersburg Russia

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Hamburger watchmaker brings old watches of the Russian tzar tick

The Hamburger watchmaker Wolfgang Domann is recently from St. Petersburg returned.

In the city on the Neva or. nearby summer residence of Peterhof restored Uhrmachemeister Wolfgang Domann together with German colleagues, the worldwide unique collection of clocks of the Russian Tsars.

Das Schloss im Peterhof

The Castle in Peterhof

The hamburger is a member of a German watchmaker Initiative, which this task is performed by volunteer.“The museum management is dependent on this help, because still there is a lack of specialists in Russia, which can handle historical Watches. Watchmakers have been trained only for the watch industry in the Soviet era”, erklärt Domann.

And he told, as the contact to St. Petersburg came about: “End of the nineties I attended a seminar of the expert group partially Historic Watches. Its chairman is married to a Russian woman. She has taught the relief operation.” The former German philology student did the German clockmaker have often to St. Petersburg and is accompanied once again been there. “With her we had an excellent interpreter on our side”, so Uhrmachermeister Domann.

Museum watch with Glochenspiel

Museum watch with Glochenspiel

The watch collection is now part of the fundus of the State Museum “Castles and parks of Peterhof”. Therefore was the main place of activity of the watchmaker, As in previous years,, Peterhof - the summer residence of Peter the Great founded and later further developed the Russian Tsar. The property is located approximately 30 Kilometers west of St. Petersburg on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland. “It is a beautiful castle with park, Fountain, Fountain und cascade”, describes Wolfgang Domann. “Our workshop is located within this castle in the park Alexandria. It is equipped with the necessary tools and machines. The most we can repair and restore site. But there are also complicated, that can not be done there. We take them Germany and put it at the next work trip back.”

The expert group succeeded this time, a total of 19 repaired valuable watches.What is the work of German experts is classified by the museum management, it can reveal, The guests have free access to all premises of the museum. The artisans were accompanied in their work this time even by a television crew of MDR.

The hamburger is a few days after his return, still under the impression of his trip. This is partly because, that the Russian hosts have provided a varied leisure program off the ground for the German guests. “It already started on arrival. We went to the studio of a Russian painter, has developed a very own style.

He combines classic folk motifs with modern elements. The visit to the studio was for us a very interesting impression”, berichtet Domann.

In addition, the watchmaker group visited the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, under Tsar Alexander II. was built and still shines in its old splendor. Matching the ambience there was Russian Ballet: Tchaikovsky “Swan”
Leben in St. Petersburg

Life in St. Petersburg

 

 

A visit to the St. Petersburg Naval Museum was also on the program. Domann and his colleagues enjoyed the Russian hospitality to the fullest. “For us it was every noon a four-course meal and the evening always a hot meal”, He raves about the sumptuous supply. “We were accommodated in the way virgins Palace of Peter Court, which was expanded into a fine hotel.

Sonnenuntergang am Finnischen Meerbusen im August 2008

Sunset on the Gulf of Finland in August 2008

The trappings of course with every stay a nice compensation for our volunteer work.”The guests from Germany were impressed, what rapid development of the city of St. Petersburg nimmt. It would be built and restored an enormous amount of. Comparisons to the city with the state about ten years ago, so she was barely recognizable. Enormous sums were invested.
A lot of valuable watches waiting in the castles of St. Petersburg nor its repair or restoration. This means for the employees of the expert group nor work for years.
In parting, the watchmaker team was a special honor. Domann and his colleagues got from the Museum Directorate documents presented. The Russian text is translated into German:
“Their extensive knowledge, professional experience, Love of history - and now hopefully to Peterhof -, let the movements of the old European and Russian champions return to life.

Our cooperation helps, that cultural contacts continue between our countries over the centuries.

Thank you and hope for a new meeting.

A detailed report will be on TV 19. November 2008 in MDR Sachsen Anhalt to 2115 under the title: ” The turn on time” broadcast

The NDR sends Regional in Hamburg Journal a 4 minute report on the master watchmaker Wolfgang Domann expected on 12.12.2008.