Twelve decorative chinoiserie sets are reconstructed over the doors and windows in the Chinese Hall of the Catherine Palace.
As well as the other decorations of the Chinese Hall, the original sets were lost during World War Two.
Also known as dessus-de-porte in French or Supraporte in German or sopraporte in Italian, an overdoor is a painting, bas-relief or decorative panel, widely applied as decorations above interior doors in 17th-18th century Europe.
The sets are composed of large gilded hills with caves, arches, multi-coloured curved-roof pavilions with bells, round and cone-shaped umbrellas, various trees, rocks, steps, flags, gazebos, and dragons. The tops of the hills are connected by hanging bridges.
According to archives, nine original sets for the north and south walls were wood-carved by sculptor Jean-Baptiste Charlemagne-Baudet based on drawings by Charles Cameron. Three more were later added on the east and west walls, as they can be seen in 19th-century watercolours and pre-war photographs.
The restorers reconstructed the sets in light woods and other light materials, coloured according to the Chinese Hall's colour scheme of coral, yellow, green and golden. The dragon figure reconstructions are based on the surviving carved mantel mirror frame in the Chinese Hall, which was carved by Charlemagne-Baudet as well.
Placed against the background of a blue sky with translucent clouds, some sets now have similar compositions because all of the twelve originals were never captured at once by painters and photographers.
Work on the reconstruction of decorative elements in the Chinese Hall and other Private Rooms of Empress Catherine II continues.
As soon as one hundred and fifty-five lacquer wall panels (currently re-created in China) are finished and installed, the Chinese Hall will appear in its full splendour in 2026. Meanwhile, it showcases authentic masterpieces of Chinese art from the museum's reserve collection, which were on display in this interior before 1917.
