Walking through the streets of small and large cities, one can notice original monuments of art on the houses, which are boards with inscriptions and images. After reading the text on them, you can learn a lot about the history of the city and the lives of prominent people. Such plaques are called memorial plaques. What are they and why are they needed?
What is a plaque?
Memorial plate is an architectural and sculptural work perpetuating the memory of historical events and outstanding personalities. It is intended for installation on the facades of buildings and is made of durable materials (metal, stone, bronze alloy or cast iron). The artistic reflection of the event is carried out in the form of a text laconic inscription. The composition of the memorial plaque can also be complemented by a sculptural portrait or other decorative elements.
History of plaques
The "progenitors" of memorial plaques were graffiti inscriptions on the walls of caves, tombstonesslabs or stones. Some of them have survived to this day and reflect the formation of the worldview of society. The first commemorative plaques on houses appeared in the 18th century, after the victory in the war of 1812. At first they served to indicate the level of water during floods. Later, the name of A. P. Voronikhin was immortalized on the walls of the Kazan Cathedral, and at the end of May 1880, a plaque was installed on Moika Street, 12 in memory of Pushkin. Only in June 1890, at a meeting of the City Duma, it was decided to start installing other commemorative plaques. Thus began their ubiquitous distribution.
Criteria for installing a plaque
Each plaque is installed for a reason, where it pleases. To begin with, a special commission determines the significance of the event in honor of which the opening of the monument takes place. If it highlights the merits of any individual, then all achievements must be officially recognized and confirmed by archival and / or award documents.
The installation of a memorial plaque takes place no earlier than a decade after the death of the honored person or the event. Restrictions on the installation time are removed if persons awarded the titles of Hero of Socialist Labor, Hero of the Soviet Union, Honorary Citizen of the City, etc. are immortalized. Sometimes, by decision of the commission, the terms can be reduced. However, the minimum term is still two years.
Usually, within the boundaries of one city,one memorial plaque reflecting the memory of the individual. It can be a place of work, a place of residence or other significant places that are associated with the life and activities of a person. There are cases when the memory of a person has already been immortalized in the name of a street or square, a monument or a bust has been erected, then the board should not be installed. Again, by decision of the commission, exceptions are stipulated, taking into account the importance of merit and events.
You should know that a memorial plaque cannot be placed on buildings of mass entertainment (museum, theater, gallery, concert hall, House of Culture). Control over the safety of the boards and care for them is carried out by the territorial housing and communal services service and the inspector for the protection of law and order. Commemorative plaques are strictly counted, even those that are lost over time or require restoration.
What could the inscription on the plaque say?
Commemorative plaques can highlight certain places in a certain city or testify to events that took place in the past. They are not only perpetuating any facts or achievements of people. There are special types of memorial plaques on which generalized statements are inscribed, for example, “A WWII veteran lived in this house. Honor and glory to him!”
There are also boards installed on a "special occasion". Usually they arise at the initiative of local authorities and often do not carry a semantic load at all, for example: “Nicholas II passed here in 1904.”
A special tradition is the opening of a memorial plaque with the image of a family coat of arms or coat of armscities. Such memorable relics began to be created in the Middle Ages, when people revered knightly and noble dynasties. In modern society, such a plaque is a rarity.
Grand opening of commemorative plaques
Each plaque is considered a monumental monument of painting, so the process of its opening, as a rule, is solemn and symbolic. Usually, it is customary to invite to such events not only members of the bureaucracy, but also artists and people associated with the event that is being immortalized. The people present pay a kind of tribute to memory, join history and pass on their traditions to future generations. The opening moments of the monument are often covered by the press.
