Small (Iron) Chinese Bridges

The Small Chinese Bridges are located on the Cross Canal on two transverse alleys leading from the Alexander Palace to the Grand Caprice. Originally, there were wooden bridges here, built according to the design of Charles Cameron in 1781. Carved columns installed at the entrance to the bridge supported curved roofs painted "like fish scales," on which twelve tin gilded weather vanes were mounted, cut from tin and covered with gold. The original wooden bridges were decorated with gilding and brightly painted. The trunks of the columns were adorned with paintings in the form of garlands of flowers; the ceiling, floor railings, and roof spires were painted in the Chinese style. The trunks of the columns were decorated with paintings of floral garlands, and the ceiling, roof ends, and railings were decorated "in the Chinese taste."

In 1786, the old bridges were replaced with metal ones, but modeled after the previously existing wooden Cameron bridges. The work on their manufacture at the Sestroretsk Arms Factory was supervised by architect Shpekle. These two bridges are close in composition but differ in details. Their shore abutments are faced with granite, the shaped iron railings rest on cast-iron pedestals, above which rise decorative vases. The Chinese character of the bridges is given by porticos with paired columns and shaped sheet iron roofs. The columns of one bridge are decorated with a relief "wickerwork," while the trunks of the columns of the other are covered with patterned leaves. The roofs above the porticos were crowned with bouquets and Chinese umbrellas. The Small Chinese Bridges differ from each other only in individual elements. The bridges are located near the Chinese Village on the Cross Canal, which frames the New Garden. Both Chinese bridges are cast iron, single-span, close in composition, and differ only in individual details. The Chinese character of the structures is given by porticos covered with shaped roofs and the bright intricate painting of all details. At the entrance to the bridge, cast-iron pedestals crowned with shaped vases are installed; the railings are made in the form of shaped latticework. Polychrome painting depicting Chinese people and dragons played a major role in the decoration of the bridges. In 2011, the Small Chinese Bridges were restored.

Sources:

https://pushkin.spb.ru/encycl/parks/kitayskie-mostyi.html

https://www.tzar.ru/objects/alexandrovskypark/newgarden/malykitayskymost