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Lincoln 'Shiny Once AgainSPRINGFIELD - The famed bu*t of Abraham Lincoln in front of Lincoln’* Tomb, Springfield, has a new complexion, thanks to a group of students from Washington University,St. Louis.On April 6, the green copper sulphate coating on Gutzon Borglum's famed sculpture was removed in a sandblasting operation utilizing glass beads which cleaned the bronze surface, but did not damage it as sand would have done.The green crust, said to be a product of air polution, was pitting and eroding the metal, according to Lincoln's Tomb site superintendent Carol Andrews.The work was done by a team of students from Washington University's center of Archaeometry, headed by restoration expert Phoebe Dent weil, head conservator for the Center. The exclusive process was developed by the Center, which is the only agency performing it. Conservation officials, who had heard of the process almost a year ago, contacted the university when it became apparent the green scum was damaging the bust. Until recently, it has been assumed the green coating on bronze and copper statuary, roofing and other appurtenances was a protection for the metal, produced by oxidation.After cleaning, the sculpture was given a coating of copper ferric nitrate to soften its shine and polyurethane to protect the metal. In May, Ms. Weil will return to apply the final coating, a synthetic resin, and give the bust a last buffing, Ms. Andrews said.
Newspaper Details
Manito Review
Manito, Illinois, US
Tue, Apr 25, 1978
Page 1
Full Page
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Sheryl B.
USA 25 Mar 2022
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