Production History
Grounds
The history of Fridlender paints dates back to 1899, when technologist Julius Fridlender opened the production of varnishes and paints on Chernaya River Embankment in St. Petersburg. This production allowed producing materials that meet the requirements of the Russian Empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This contributed to the formation of St. Petersburg’s unique look at that time. The products were in great demand, including at the level of the Imperial Court’s Ministry, as evidenced by archival documents.
Soviet Period
In 1920 the Factory was nationalized and starting from January 1922 the Paint and Varnish Factory “Stroitel” was based here.
In February 1932 employees of the Tretyakov Gallery sent a request to People’s Commissar Klimentiy Voroshilov asking to launch production of art materials for Soviet artists.
At that moment, there was no big factory in the country, and small craft producers could not satisfy the demand of the artists. They had to buy paints from abroad paying in foreign currency for large expositions. The initiative was recognized as an important one and production was launched in only a couple of years, including development “from scratch” of the unique formulas, which represented a confidential information and “brand secret” of each art materials factory in the world.
The team of chemists, artists, material scientists, production designers and engineers fulfilled a really monumental task: 30 formulas of oil paints had already been developed by 1934. And on 1 December 1934, following the Order by People’s Commissar Grigory Ordzhonikidze, the Leningrad Art Paints Factory was added to the register of chemical enterprises of the USSR.
In 1935 the Factory produced 72 tons of oil paints demonstrating a vigorous growth.
Dmitry Kiplik, the Professor of the Academy of Arts, was a permanent consultant of the Factory, and Artist Isaak Brodsky served as a Chairman of the Artistic Expert Board.
By 1940 the Factory had already manufactured not only oil paints, but also watercolors, gouache and tempera, as well as the associated products: oil, varnishes, and thinners.
During the Great Patriotic War, the Factory worked under the orders from the front line. After 1945 production was restarted
Present
Today the Art Paints Factory “Nevskaya Palitra” offers several product ranges: water colors, oil, tempera, acryl, gouache, products for arts and crafts.
Materials by “Nevskaya Palitra” are used in restoration works in the Hermitage, the State Russian Museum, the Tretyakov Gallery, in wall paintings in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Great Kremlin Palace and many other architectural monuments.
Craftsmen of the unique folk arts and crafts of Palekh, Mstyora, Kholuy, Zhostovo, Pavlov Posad, numerous icon workshops and churches are loyal consumers of the Factory’s products. Products under the brand “Nevskaya Palitra” are exported to Europe, the USA and other countries. Fridlender Paints
“Fridlender” paints combine the experience of predecessors and modern innovative technologies in the development of unique formulas and colors. Contribution to the restoration of cultural heritage is a tribute to the traditions of preserving historical monuments of architecture and painting.
As 120 years ago, only natural components are used for the production of paints, which guarantee exceptional durability, color stability and environmental friendliness.
Our production remains unique in Russia having its own laboratory and pigment workshop, which allows strictly controlling the quality of raw materials at all stages.
Fridlender brand products are aimed at preserving, restoring and creating new high-quality and durable coatings. It includes a historical line of materials developed by Julius Fridlender at the beginning of the 20th century. Today we can see these colors on the streets of St. Petersburg because most of them are included in the tinting map for the city facades coloring approved in the second half of the 1960s. At the same time, reviving the authentic palette, we do not forget about market’s current demands that is why we constantly improve and expand our range.
An individual approach to the restored objects involves an assessment of the object itself and the possibility of selecting an exclusive historical shade that is not included in the base line. Service at the production site also allows paints tinting according to RAL, NCS, and the Fridlender's own palette. The company's specialists provide ongoing consulting support for projects, since the restoration work of cultural heritage sites places special high demands on the quality and historical identity of materials.
Fridlender brand products are as follows: Prochnin acrylic, silicone, dispersion silicate and sol-silicate materials, Gigienol lime paints, as well as Negnilin oils and varnishes for processing various surfaces.