Conservation and maintenance of bronze and marble outdoor sculpture in Delaware County, Indiana

Abstract

Sculptural works in an outdoor environment undergo different types of deterioration, depending upon their media and the environment in which they are placed. Sculptural monuments in an outdoor environment will eventually deteriorate and fail. Without proper care and the recognition of factors leading to their degradation, these sculptures will surely be lost.Delaware County retains twenty-four existing bronze and marble outdoor sculptures, many of which suffer from slight to extreme deterioration of their materials. Through research of the media, causes of deterioration, and available conservation treatments, this project strives to provide viable recommendations for prolonging the lives of these sculptures in Delaware County.Case studies of four pieces were prepared by the author, complete with photographs and surface maps that explain the type and location of deterioration present. These pieces were chosen as representative of the media surveyed.