Georgian court University - 17th Century Limestone Statues

SCULPTOR: Unknown

SCULPTED: 17th Century

SUBJECT: (2) Female figures- depicting two of four seasons.

MEDIUM: Limestone

LOCATION:  Georgian Court University
900 Lakewood Ave
Lakewood, NJ 08701
Italian Gardens

ARCHITECT: Bruce Price (1845-1903)

YEAR DED.: 1901- (not verified)

Two (2) of (4) female figures depicting Spring (gazing left) and Fall (gazing right) were restored. These limestone statues were painted twice over the past 50 years.  They were coated with both latex and oil based paints. These paint methods caused adverse affects to the statues. Both paints were not intended for coating limestone and were not breathable coatings and resulted in widespread coating failure - evidenced by the spalling of the surface and large sections of paint peeling from the surface. Some of the paint remained anchored within the pores of the limestone and were not safely removable.

Treatment:  Several methods were tested and the final solution was using PeelAway SafeStrip and plastic and wooded scrapers to remove the current paint coatings.  Dwell time for the PeelAway ranged from 12-72 hours.  Not all paint was removed - due to potential damage to the limestone surface.

Both sculptures had their surfaces consolidated using Beeck’s Renosil Course Mineral Coating. This step matched the course surface of the existing limestone surfaces.  Then a final mineral coating of Renosil Fine Silicate Coating was applied consolidating all surfaces of the statues and stone plinths.