One of the greatest museums in the world, the Hermitage is home to thousands of works of art. His collection includes not only paintings and sculptures, but also amazing pieces of art, including the Peacock watch. This unique machine, created in the 18th century, is not just a clockwork mechanism, but a symbiosis of sophisticated craftsmen and technical genius.
In art products, the choice of each alloy is carefully considered, taking into account the aesthetic and functional requirements of a particular project. But the most commonly used materials are:
True works of art must not only be aesthetically beautiful, but also durable, as well as meet the functional requirements of a particular project. In the case of the Peacock, the Hermitage used the work to achieve maximum reliability and accuracy precision alloys, in particular, for the manufacture of some spring elements of the watch mechanism.
The Peacock watch represents a real theater, where every figure comes to life when the mechanism is factory. The process begins with the awakening of the symbol of the night — the Owl. Her graceful movements to the beat of bells located in the cage create an amazing atmosphere.
Then the focus is on the Peacock, a symbol of the sun. Its exquisitely opening, luxurious tail with golden plumage emphasizes the beauty of the artwork and the craftsmanship of its creators. Despite the fact that the mechanism that simulates the cry of a peacock does not work today, its external beauty is no less fascinating for museum visitors.
The Rooster ends the performance, symbolizing the beginning of a new day. His scream, reproduced by a special organ, ends the hour-long performance, emphasizing the nature of each moment in time.
In total, the composition takes 4 minutes. The design itself consists of 4 mechanisms, three of which move bird figures, and the fourth is a clock mechanism.
The Peacock watch was created in England in the 1770s by master James Cox. According to legend, they were ordered by Count G.A. Potemkin for the Hermitage by Empress Catherine II. The German master Friedrich Yuri was responsible for designing the clock mechanism itself.
Interestingly, Peacock survived not only evacuation during World War II, but also subsequent restorations. It was the only large machine gun of the 18th century that has survived to this day in working condition without changes.
In 1994, it was decided to establish a watch laboratory at the Hermitage in order to carefully preserve and maintain the rich heritage of watchmaking. The last restoration of Peacock in 1995 under the direction of Yuri Petrovich Platonov emphasized the importance of preserving this amazing work of art for future generations.
The Peacock watch in the Hermitage is not just a mechanical device for measuring time; it is a true masterpiece of artistic art that embodies the skill and splendor of 18th-century technology.
