Sphinxes from ancient Thebes.
Sphinxes Restoration
First mentions about sphinges damages we can find in V. Struve work." ...When this stony colossus (approximately 23 000 kg weight) was lifted on board and there was only two foots up to the deck, the lifting gear failed because of this great weight, and sphinx came down to the place of its destination not easily, its appearance suffered: the rope, which was seizing his head, was dislocated at the flirt and tore off three small pieces of granite, which were carefully picked up into cassette, transferred to captain for keeping, from the right side of the cap. Installation of the second sphinx was carried out without any problems, as well as placement of two giant crowns (it is unknown, if they fell from their heads, or were put off for convenience) and a piece of red granite, bought to repair some damages of crowns".
There is also a mention about sphinges repairing:"...when they (sphinges) were moved to Kronshtadt, the quay was not ready, so they had to be put at the round yard of Academy of Arts up to the full finish of works over the quay. They were staying there for almost two years, meanwhile they were installed at their permanent place at the end of April of 1834. Several weeks after their installation on high granitic pedestals their giant crowns were put on their heads after a long repairing".
It is known that in 1933 the sphinges surface was sodden with boiled linseed oil, which filled all minute cracks and capillaries in stone, for sphinges preservation. The lost bronze griffons were poured over again at plant in Kolpino and were installed at the quay on June 25, 1934.
At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War a special housing was constructed for protection of sphinges from artillery attacks. After the end of the War, when the works over the liquidation of damages, brought by enemy, were developed, the quay near Academy of Arts was reconstructed too.
In 2002, by order of City Sculpture museum, “Center of Restoration of Ecology and Culture” carried out restoration-conservative works over the monument of Egyptian Sphinxes.
The control over restoration works was carried out by inspector of UKGIOP (Committee on State Control, Use and Protection of Historical and Cultural Landmarks) Alexandrov V.V., and Efremova N.N.fnd Trofimov V.N. from City Sculpture museum. Restorer Stanislav Shchigorets . managed the restoration works. Restorers group: Albina Doos, Sergey Shchigorets, Victor Lebedev. The monument material expertise was carried: Vlasov D.J, Bulach A.G., Frank-Kamenetskaya O.V., Zolotarev A.A., Marugin V.M.