Why "Mercator"?
And who we are
Have you seen Google Maps? Mercator's projection in which they were designed is the legacy of an influential Flemish cartographer of 16th century.
He has made an exceptional contribution to cartography.
He has made an exceptional contribution to cartography.
Nowadays "Mercator" is a tribute to a great person and the cartographic studio. It is located at the Moscow University of Geodesy and Cartography — our alma mater.
There was an idea to create the production of wooden relief maps. Such maps which no one and nowhere makes. The team, brought together specialists in woodworking, cartographers, illustrators, artists and 3D modelers, has passed a thorny path. And, apparently, we have found our calling in this craft.
There was an idea to create the production of wooden relief maps. Such maps which no one and nowhere makes. The team, brought together specialists in woodworking, cartographers, illustrators, artists and 3D modelers, has passed a thorny path. And, apparently, we have found our calling in this craft.
Art Terrain Modelling
The tradition of creating art terrain models of the area goes back to the XVIII century, to Zurich Institute of Cartography. In those challenging times the necessity of the relief models of the area was conditioned not only by scientific but also by military purposes.
Massive work on modeling of Swiss Alps performed by Simon Simon, Xavier Imfeld and Eduard Imhof turned them to the founding fathers and their works on relief mapping became classics of the genre.
Following the traditions, we continue their work.
Massive work on modeling of Swiss Alps performed by Simon Simon, Xavier Imfeld and Eduard Imhof turned them to the founding fathers and their works on relief mapping became classics of the genre.
Following the traditions, we continue their work.
Simon Simon
Simon Simon was born in Allschwil, Switzerland. After studying relief modelling at Zurich Institute of Cartography, Simon was a military engineer of Old Swiss Confederacy. In 1886 he retired from military service and deepened into the topography, started the creating of terrain models of Swiss Alps. The largest of its kind – Bernese Highlands – has been developing by him during 28 years (1886-1914). There were the materials of 1700 mountaineering expeditions, more than 10000 photos and several thousand drawings gathered to model the landscape. Simon's Bernese Highlands was publicly presented in 1914 at the national exhibition in Bern. Presently the exhibit is in the Swiss Alpine Museum.
Xavier Imfeld
Xavier Imfeld was extraordinarily innovative in his approach. Managing the works in the field of cartography, he also participated in the modeling of landscapes and the construction of mountain railways. Creating the relief maps, Imfeld found an effective way to sell them: using the innovative method of galvanization, he launched a mass production of the mountain landscapes models.
In 1896 at the national exhibition in Geneva "the most beautiful model of the most beautiful mountain in the world", the famous Matterhorn, was demonstrated. There are several copies of this model in several museums in the world.
The other Imfeld's masterpiece is the model of Jungfrau mountain range, designed in 1897-1900 in the scale of 1: 2 500. Serving for the construction of the railway, the model became the significant decoration of the world fair in Paris in 1900. More than 30 people were engaged in the producing of this 550 x 450 cm terrain model. There were more than 600,000 miniature trees on the map.
Imfeld did not paint models himself. One of the best cartographic artists of Imfeld's time, Fridolin Becker, was his coauthor. Thus, the best modeler and the best artist was creating their incredible works of art together.
In 1896 at the national exhibition in Geneva "the most beautiful model of the most beautiful mountain in the world", the famous Matterhorn, was demonstrated. There are several copies of this model in several museums in the world.
The other Imfeld's masterpiece is the model of Jungfrau mountain range, designed in 1897-1900 in the scale of 1: 2 500. Serving for the construction of the railway, the model became the significant decoration of the world fair in Paris in 1900. More than 30 people were engaged in the producing of this 550 x 450 cm terrain model. There were more than 600,000 miniature trees on the map.
Imfeld did not paint models himself. One of the best cartographic artists of Imfeld's time, Fridolin Becker, was his coauthor. Thus, the best modeler and the best artist was creating their incredible works of art together.
Edward Imhof
One of the most famous plaster terrain models are the works of Eduard Imhof – the founder of Zurich Institute of Cartography. His two monumental large-scale reliefs of Bietschhorn and Windgällen mountain ranges were presented at the Swiss national exhibition in 1939 for the first time. The models precisely reproduced sharp rock ridges on a scale of 1: 2000 and were 170 x 137 & 307 x 163 cm respectively. Imhof for a year and a half carried out a huge work on their creation. There were thousands of aerial photographs and photogrammetric images made specially for the project.
The model created by Simon Simon in 1886-1914 was the largest relief map of Swiss Alps during a long time. Being 480 x 525 cm, it covered 25m² area.
Grindelwald is also the area in Bernese Highlands. The photo shows its embodiment in Xavier Imfeld's relief model.
The mountain range of Central Switzerland was the first work of Eduard Imhof - the most famous Swiss cartographer, the founder of Zurich Institute of Cartography.
Terrain models were hand-made from gypsum, wood, cardboard and other materials at that time. The accurate replica of the area required a long-term work of many engineers. The colors on the models were applied using an airbrush.
Nowadays we create relief maps using the elevation data from satellites. Automated equipment is responsible for the precise reproduction of the area.
We can make relief maps of any size and scale. Flexibility – is the main principle of our work.
As it was many years ago, our maps are hand-painted by brush and oil paints. A high accuracy of models is achieved by using modern geoinformation technologies and equipment with numerical program control.
These instruments allow us to reproduce the relief of Earth's surface reliably and use both paper maps and satellite or geodetic survey materials.
These instruments allow us to reproduce the relief of Earth's surface reliably and use both paper maps and satellite or geodetic survey materials.
Each map is precisely carved from wood using of 3D modelling. Multi-stage refinement allows us to work out the smallest details.
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We will be glad to work with you!
Contacts:
WhatsApp, Telegram: +7 (985) 148 12 70 - Michael
maps.mercator@gmail.com
Russia, Moscow, Gorokhovsky pereulok, 4
Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography
+7 (926) 330 20 38 - Leo, CEO
maps.mercator@gmail.com
Russia, Moscow, Gorokhovsky pereulok, 4
Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography
+7 (926) 330 20 38 - Leo, CEO