First Russian Bells Museum was opened

On June 17, 1995, on the day of the 500^th anniversary of Valday holidays in the architect complex of 18^th century under the Palace Church in the name of the Great Martyr Saint Catherine, built under the project of architect N. A. Lvov for Empress Catherine II, was opened the first Russian Bells Museum.

According to a legend the bells’ production takes its origins from Valday due to the fact that in the end of 15^th century here was broken a popular assembly bell. However the handbell which is commonly called ‘of Valday’ (that is of a coachman) would not appear until the second half of the 18^th century. Coachman bells were needed, in the first place, at the main and the most active Russian road – the highway between Moscow and St. Petersburg. The center of their production arose at Valday situated in the middle of the highway. In the beginning of 19^th century special bells workshops and factories were mounted. On the whole in Russia of 19^th – beginning of 20^th century operated over 20 centers of coachman bells’ founding.

The bell was a sort of a sing for special transport. It was allowed for use only by government carriages – of government couriers, police and post. A coachman bell was the signal instrument contributing to the conveyance security as well as the musical instrument accompanying the coachman singing. The bells corrected the horses’ movement along the highway setting for them one pace or another.

Valday bell has a classical (‘Valday’) form: it is based on the equivalent height-diameter ratio which gives the impression of steadiness. Valday bell has almost no decoration, just an inscription along the lower border called the ‘skirt’. Here are the most known inscriptions on Valday bells: “Buy, don’t be lavish: ride and have fun”, “You are to send a message from faraway”, “Who buys a bell will be happy”, “I offer the one I love”, etc.

The Valday Museum exposition presents the materials on bells’ founding of different countries, including the history of Valday bell. One can learn about the eminent researchers and collectors, bells producer-factories and masters producing bells souvenirs for the Museum, the today situation in bells craft and bell-ringing art.

At the present Valday Bells Museum houses one of the largest collections of handbells. The Museum collection includes church, shepherd, coachman, office, door, ship, fire, souvenir bells and handbells. The bells placed on the belfries offer the opportunity to listen to bells’ ringing, see the technique of ringing, the way of bell-ringing art. The visitors are allowed to ring the bells themselves.

Lit.: Горохов В. А. Звонят колокола. М., 2006; Петров И. Ф. Поддужные колокольчики // Тальцы. 2005. №3 (26); То же [Электронный ресурс]. URL: http://www.pribaikal.ru/talci-item/article/2200.html.