DATING OF HISTORICAL BUILDINGS ACCORDING TO THE FEATURES OF BUILDING MATERIALS
Pages 62-74
During reconstruction and scientific restoration of historical buildings of Moscow there often rises a question on the history of house ownership and dating of its first construction and further reconstructions. The article considers the methods of determining the age of buildings according to some specific features of brickwork and metal structures. It is proposed to use such characteristics as brickwork type, processing technique of mortar seams, size of bricks and a brand on them as dating marks when inspecting buildings. Brands on bricks have been traced since middle 17th when they were of animalistic character, later they consisted of one letter. Since the beginning of the 17th brands consisted of two or three letters meaning the initials of a factory owner. In the end of the 19th there appeared signs with full surnames of owners. Letter seals were usually placed on bonders and seals with surnames, later also with factory names, were situated on stretchers and sometimes on bed of bricks. It is recommended to analyze dating of bricks using reference books on dating back of the brands to historical periods. At the same time one should take into account the possibility of secondary use of bricks in the construction. The main dating feature of metal structures is a trade mark. Attribution of marks with abbreviations of factories and initials of owners needs addressing to the history of plants and sometimes to biographic information of the owners. The authors present materials on steams on bricks and metal details educed during field studies of historical buildings of Moscow. The authors underline the necessity to use complex approach in case of certain age of a building, which takes into account all the dating features of structures.
DOI: 10.22227/1997-0935.2016.9.62-74