Miniature fountains "Tritons" or "Bells"

Miniature fountains "Tritons" appeared on the shore of the Marlinsky Pond at the end of the 1720s. The sculptures of four identical boys-tritons holding flat bowls in their hands were cast in England in 1721 based on a drawing by the architect Braunstein. Originally, the "Tritons" were intended to decorate the Grand Cascade, but they were cleverly adapted to create fountains with a simple and elegant compositional design. Four water jets shot out from the bowls above the heads of the "Tritons."

At the end of the 18th century, the fountain design was changed, and the water began to shoot out in the form of water bells. Since then, the fountains have been called "Cloche," which means "Bells" in French. The water hits a bronze damper at the outlet and forms a transparent water bell. Overflowing the edges of the bowl held above the Triton's head, the water surrounds his figure with a thin veil. The "Triton-Bells" stood in their place until the war and were stolen by German soldiers.

In 1954, sculptor Gurzhiy created new bronze "Tritons," based on pre-war photographs. These fountains use water supplied from two Menagerie water jets located further south.

Sources:

https://peterhofmuseum.ru/objects/peterhof/fontani_tritoni_kolokola