JONATHAN TAGGART TAGGART OBJECTS CONSERVATION
P. O. Box 252, Bath, Maine 04530; 2073712099, Fax. 2013719991;
1573 Grand Avenue, Astoria, OR. 97103 (503) 3257279;
HELENA, MONTANA SCULPTURE ASSESSMENT
DATE OF EXAMINATION: August 1415, 2000 ASSESSMENT BY: Jonathan Taggart
ARTIST: Unknown
TITLE: George Washington
DATE MADE: Before 1888
SCULPTURE MEDIA: Marble
BASE MEDIA: Marble and granite
MAKER/FABRICATOR:
DIMENSIONS: Smaller than life size on an approximately 4 ft. high base
INVENTORY NUMBER:
LOCATION: East of Broadway, Court house yard
OVERALL CONDITION: Poor
SCULPTURE, STRUCTURE: The sculpture has been broken and poorly mended at some time in the past. The discoloration of the adhesive implies that it is an old mend. The pieces appear to have been poorly aligned, leaving stepped edges. These stepped edges have been ground off, at some tine in the past as indicated by the new smooth marble surface adjacent to older weathered surfaces . There are numerous fills and repairs.
SURFACE: The surface though generally clean, appears to have many areas of inpainting to cover fills and repairs. Inpainting may also been used to cover black sulfation crusts which are apparent under protected areas. There is a blue green paint accretion in several areas of the front to the sculpture.
BASE, STRUCTURE: Spalling of the surface caused by the mechanical dressing of the stone in manufacture, weakening the surface layer.
SURFACE: The lowest base is very dirty.
COATINGS: Some marble areas many have been painted to cover disfigured areas.
TREATMENT PRIORITY: CONDITION CODE (SCALE 15): 12
1) In need of immediate conservation treatment.
2) Treatment needed in the next 15 years.
3) Treatment needed in the next 510 years
4) Stable condition
5)Treated and maintained
TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS:
WORK LOCATION: On site
SCAFFOLDING OR CRANE: Step ladders
STRUCTURE: Remove loose and deteriorated filles. Fill losses with an appropriate modern material.
SURFACE: Clean and remove sulfation crust where practical. Inpaint new fills and disfigured areas.
MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDATIONS: Gently clean as needed. Develop and appropriate maintenance plan.
COST ESTIMATES:
TREATMENT: 5,000
MATERIALS (10% OF TREATMENT COST): $500
ANNUAL MAINTENANCE: $200
MAINTENANCE ENDOWMENT (maintenance cost X 20): $4000
ADOPTION (treatment + endowment): $9,500
PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD: Front PR and back PL, one detail
SEE NOTE ON NEXT PAGE!
NOTES: This sculpture may be one of the older sculptures in the state. Research into its history and provenance would be helpful in determining its importance. It could benefit from a major treatment, removing disfiguring sulfation crusts as well as old deteriorated and darkened fills and mends. Losses should be replaced with more stable modern materials. If such a major treatment was to occur, it would be advisable to exhibit the sculpture, after conservation, in the indoor environment. Such a major treatment could cost $20,000. The proposed treatment is a stabilization and aesthetic integration to improve its appearance until such a time as the major treatment is deemed appropriate.
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