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Vinogradov readings-2007 in St. Petersburg

Important conference of porcelain experts Vinogradov Readings-2007 took place in the Northern capital of Russia through November 12 ≈ November 15. The conference ╚Porcelain of XVIIIth century. Factories and Workshops. Collections. Experts╩ gathered together major European and Russian specialists. Now we can sum up the results and discuss prospects of the international project.

Vinogradov Readings-2007 that are the first stage of the long-term international program ╚European Porcelain╩ (2007√2010) were organized in the memorable year ≈ 255 years ago Dmitry Ivanovich Vinogradov, the inventor of the Russian porcelain, finished his unique work ╚Detailed description of pure porcelain╩, the first-ever monograph on manufacturing techniques of porcelain and 300 years ago I.F. Betger discovered the formula of hard porcelain in Meissen.

One of the most active organizers of the Petersburg forum of porcelain makers is the Association of friends of ceramics (Gesellschaft der Keramikfreunde GKF, Germany) that united known critics, collectors, experts and more than a hundred museums and libraries of the world. Its purposes are to activate the research of ceramics and collecting and support of museums and scientists are similar to the ones of Vinogradov Readings.

Besides GKF we would like to name other organizers of the international theoretical and practical conference ╚Vinogradov Readings-2007 in Petersburg. Porcelain of the XVIII century: Enterprises. Collections. Experts╩: St. Petersburg science centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences; St. Petersburg State Scientific and Industrial Academy named after A.L. Shtiglitz and the Swiss Center in Petersburg on behalf of the International center ╚Helenika╩ that is a part of it. ╚Helenika╩ takes up international cooperation in the sphere of culture and science and patronage of arts; it▓s the author and the champion of the project ╚European porcelain╩.

The participation of the Swiss center is quite proved: the Swiss played an essential role in perfection and development of manufacturing of Russian porcelain. It is enough to recollect the names of the Geneva professor Frantz Hattenberger (Jean Francois Xavier Hattenberger), a known painter-technologist and sculptor that promoted to creation of the private porcelain enterprise of Gardner, an active reformer and director (in the beginning of the XIX century) of the Imperial Porcelain Factory, and Leonard Shaufelberger (Leonhard Schaufelberger), the leading master of the workshop of the Imperial Porcelain Factory who promoted its perfecting.

The list of the participants was diverse ≈ they were employees of leading museums and scientific institutes, experts, antique dealers, collectors, painters, students and teachers of art high schools┘ It is a pleasure to say that the contents of reports, teamwork in the funds and at the exposition, multilateral consultations and discussions always sufficed for purposes of Vinogradov Readings:

≈ modern and all-round analysis of evolution of culture of porcelain, interference of the national centers of its manufacture and systems of training of experts;
≈ popularization of museum and private collections;
≈ positioning of Russian porcelain and its estimations by experts in the all-European context;
≈ creation of conditions for consultations of experts and for their further cooperation.

Here, at the first Vinogradov Readings for the first time museum keepers, art historians, private collectors and antique dealers worked together as participants of discussions and members of the international expert group that worked on visiting consultations museum. Their work was surprisingly harmonious and fruitful.

The specialty of the conference fully corresponded to its main idea and credo that was declared at its opening ceremony: ╚Cognatio Spiritualis╩ (╚Spiritual Closeness╩ ≈ a motto of the centre ╚Helenika╩): striving for united cultural space first appeared in the Hellenic world, with its top priorities being culture, science, political and social tolerance, spiritual perfection and unity, which were fully revealed by the Olympic movement.

The idea is reflected in the logo (brand) of Vinogradov Readings in St. Petersburg designed by Maria Skvortzova. It seems that the vine of the logo has come right from the first Vinorgadov▓s works. It▓s the symbol of fertility and creativity that passed through ╚all the epoques and styles╩ of all the national cultures and used in decorative elements of European porcelain.

The same idea is reflected and in the model of the program of conference created by the same artist The leitmotif of the model are ╚flowers of the Indies╩, one of the basic elements of decor of European, particularly Meissen, porcelain.

The Russian lecturers and experts were of senior, average and younger generation of classical Moscow and Petersburg school of art criticism, museology and community of private collectors. Among them: N.L. Berezhnaya (State Manor Museum ╚Arkhangelskoye╩), A.V. Troshchinskaya (Museum of Applied and Decorative and Industrial Arts attached to Moscow State Arts and Crafts University named after S.G. Stroganov), E.A. Ivanova and I.N. Popova (State Russian Museum), Y.E. Vilensky (State Hermitage), E.N. Gumenyuk (State Reserve Museum Pavlovsk), S.S. Fomina (State Reserve Museum Gatchina), E.O. Surkova (Palace Museum on Elagin Island), T.M. Moiseyev and O.A. Smirnova (Chamber of Curiosities, the Russian Academy of Science), collectors╛investigators M.N. Korablev and M.A. Sokolenko (Moscow) and others.

GKF was basically represented by the senior generation of the recognized masters of European Art Studies, antiquarian community and leading experts of auction houses. The largest collectors came to St. Petersburg, among them: Dr. Reinhard Jansen, president of GKF, recognized expert on European and Russian porcelain and collector; Hela Schandelmaier, vice-president of GKF, the leading expert on European faience; Prof. Bernhard von Barsewisch, the largest collector of daily china with dark blue underglaze painting, founder of a private museum and expert; Guenter Beushausen, the largest collector of early Meissen porcelain (up to 1735), expert and known antique dealer; Dr. Egon Walter Klein, a large collector-investigator; Dr. Doris Bachmeier, the main expert of the auction house ╚Noimeiter╩ (Munich) and others.

The basic themes for brisk discussions were problems of fakes (copying) of porcelain of known manufactories of the XVIII century at less known enterprises of that time and in the next centuries; difficulty of datings and re-authentications of museum objects; principles of exhibiting of original products and additions to known ensembles; problems of restoration and precise definition of its purposes.

Principles of forming and efficiency of the use of historical forms, features of ornamental decor of works of the XVIII century and its role as a sample for imitation and base for creativity in the next centuries; necessity of more effective interaction of museum keepers, collectors and antique dealers; insufficiency and imperfection of the information base were widely discussed. All these problems were reflected in the reports that will be published in the magazine ╚Antiq.Info╩.

The participants of the conference were able to familiarize themselves with new thematic exhibitions: the exhibition ╚Projects of china a la Sevres and Meissen porcelain of the XVIII century: works of students of the Central School of Technical Drawing named after baron Shtiglitz 1810√1910╩ (curator ≈ G.A. Vlasova) especially prepared for the opening of Vinogradov Readings.

The opening was prepared by employees of the Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts attached to St. Petersburg State Arts and Crafts Academy named after Shtigkitz and the exhibition ╚The World of the West and Myths of the East. West and East as Themes in Early Meissen Porcelain╩ (curator: L.V. Lyakhova) that is running in the State Hermitage Museum from the 2nd of October 2007 till the 13th of January 2008 and was presented to the participants of the conference during the first visiting session.

The Hermitage exhibition highly impressed foreign specialist. They were delighted with it: ╚It would be impossible to gather such quantity of objects of unique early Meissen porcelain of such a high art level in any other museum╩.

The atmosphere of silent contemplation and deep joint analysis, rare mutual understanding and ╚complementarity╩ that had arisen in an international group of experts (at that they stayed in the same hospitable and cosy hotel ╚Helvetia╩), family warmth and care that were spoken about by all the foreign and Russian lecturers at the press conference promoted doubtless success of important conference Vinogradov Readings-2007.

The success was evident not only for Russian and foreign experts, but also for representatives of Mass Media who gave wide coverage of the work of the conference. The publication of the reports of the participants of the conference begins in December 2007 in the magazine ╚Antique. Info╩ by the company ╚Russian antiques╩, its official information sponsor in Russia. The publication will last till October 2008

The Information sponsor of Vinogradov Readings in Europe ≈ GKF will devote a special ╚Russian issue╩ of its magazine ╚Keramos╩ to the publishing of materials of the conference.

The second international theoretical and practical ╚Vinogradov Readings-2008. Porcelain of the XIX century: Enterprises. Collections. Experts╩ will take place in St. Petersburg on November 10√14, 2008, the year of 250th anniversary of Vinpgradov▓s death and creation of Ludwigsburg porcelain manufactory and the 140th anniversary of Nicolas II birthday and the 90th anniversary of tragic death of the imperial family in Ekaterinburg.

Separate plenary session will be devoted to ╚porcelain communications╩ of the Romanov with ruling European and Scandinavian dynasties i.e. to memorial porcelain that arrived to Russia and was sent from it with wedding and relational gifts.