Restorations & Conservation

Franklin, MA Public Library Restoration

Franklin, MA

The Franklin Public Library is considered America’s first public library. In 1778, when the town was incorporated, the designated name Exeter was changed to Franklin in honor of Dr. Benjamin Franklin. In return Franklin was asked to donate a bell for the town’s church steeple. Acknowledging that “sense” was preferable to “sound”, Dr. Franklin responded with an offer of books for the use of the town’s residents. When the volumes arrived, a great controversy arose over who should be allowed to use them. On November 20th, 1790, those attending Franklin’s town meeting voted to lend the books to all Franklin inhabitants free of charge. This vote established the Franklin collection as the first public library in the United States. The original Franklin collection is still housed in a book case in the circulation department. In 1904, the Ray Memorial Building was dedicated and the Franklin Library got a permanent building – a gift from the Ray family. That same year, the Ray family also established the Ray Memorial fund to provide for and maintain the building. The Franklin Library Association ran the library until 1981 when the Franklin Public Library became a department of the town of Franklin. From 1987 to 1989, the Library underwent extensive restoration to maintain the original beauty and splendor of this beautiful classical Greek structure and to add a children’s wing.

In 2017 Buccacio Sculpture Services completed restoration to the Franklin Library utalizing old world restoration techniques of the 17th-Century Masters. Sandblasting and various stages of chemicals were applied to repatina  both front and back bronze doors to the library. The proper way to restore bronze is time consuming and strenuous work but the only process Buccacio Sculpture uses to achieve the original bronze look of any bronze restoration. The 7’/9′ entrance plaque was sanded thoroughly, cracks were filled with plaster and then sanded to receive a coat of shellac and fresh paint. Gold tinted wax was applied and buffed to create the look of bronze. In the entrance to the library, 3000ft of scagliola was and black granite were also restored using old-world restoration techniques. The scagliola was first cleaned and prepped creating v-channels. After prepping the v-channels for new scagliola application, epoxy with 3/16 threaded steal rod is inserted into the cracks at various intervals to reinforce the surface of the scagliola. Lacquer is then applied to seal area for repair. New scagliola is then mixed, using old world techniques, and applied to the v-channels. Once drying time is completed the area is wet sanded with various sandpaper up to 1200 grit. Special oils are applied to seal the new scagliola before waxes are applied and buffed to a new polished look to 17th century old scagliola. The 9ft/13ft tall entrance way adorned with scagliola was also restored along with 2 8ft/12ft entry ways and 8 18ft. architectural pillars. Buccacio Sculpture is well equipt for the impressively difficult restoration work. Last we polished 1500 sq. ft. of black granite and installed new bronze railing and bronze vents to various areas of the library.

New England Foundry, Buccacio Sculpture Services is truely proud to be given the opportunity to utalize our craftmanship in the restoration of the Franklin Public Library, for the community to enjoy for years to come.

CLAFLIN FOUNTAIN

Town Commons, Hopkinton, Massachusetts

The 7,500 pound, cast-iron fountain with bronze ornaments was erected in memory of Charles Winslow Claflin and Ann Maria Claflin, by their son Charles L. Claflin in 1907. It was placed on the town Commons across the street from the family home. Buccacio Sculpture Services performed a complete Fountain Restoration that included flowing water through a new internal pumphouse in time for the town’s 300th Anniversary Celebration on September 2016.

Piece by piece, our crew disassembled the Claflin Memorial Fountain on the Town Common and had it carefully delivered to our studio for repairs. After measurements were taken, we then re-created the missing components to the fountain by sculpting them from historic photos. Once approved by the Town Committee, those components were then fabricated in the foundry where they were sand-cast, tap & died, dry fitted and re-installed on site. We painted and sealed the outside with weatherproof paints, and secured all of the original ornamental pieces, which also needed re-creating and re-casting in bronze. Buccacio Sculpture removed and installed a whole new state of-the-art fountain pumphouse. Finally, the details included a landscaped English Garden to compliment the fountain.

ART & SCIENCE SCULPTURE

Boston, Massachussets

Buccacio Sculpture Services performed the restoration of this 1912 Sculpture by Bella Pratt, located at the entrance of the Boston Public library in 2014.

We removed the years of heavy corrosion build-up, and cleansed the bronze surface of all contaminants. A re-patina and Incralac were added to the surface. Three coats of a Carnauba base wax were then applied to establish a protective coating.

GENERAL BURNSIDE

Providence, Rhode Island

The General Burnside Monument is maintained by Buccacio Sculpture Services. Our annual cleaning protects this sculpture from the degradations of acid rain and other environmental stresses. We are always mindful of the penetrating effects of corrosion and have developed specialized techniques to protect the bronze. Buccacio Sculpture Services restored this 20 foot tall monument including the granite and stone base utilizing scaffolding.

As you can see the heavily corroded lime green color was completely removed by cleansing the bronze surface of all contaminants. A re-patina and Incralac were added to the surface. Three coats of Carnauba wax were then applied to return the statue to its shiny bronze state.

DIANA WITH STAG

Private Residence

Buccacio Sculpture Services received this cast zinc, turn of the century made material, in 60 to 70 pieces. We welded together a stainless steel armature to support the interior of the frame. From there we attached the zinc pieces to the stainless steel form using state-of-the art resins and epoxy.

GENERAL DRAPER

A Daniel Chester French sculpture in Milford, Massachusetts

Buccacio Sculpture Services removed the years of heavy corrosion build-up, and cleansed the bronze surface of all contaminants. A re-patina and Incralac were added to the surface. Three coats of a Carnauba base wax were then applied. In addition to the restoration of General Draper, we continue to annually maintain all of the stonework and granite in the plaza, along with the 6 plaques located throughout the town of Milford.

1914 EAGLE CIVIL WAR MONUMENT

Bourne, Massachusetts

Buccacio Sculpture Services restored this bronze eagle atop a century-old Civil War monument in 2016.

A thirty-foot on-site boom was used. Years of heavy corrosion build-up were removed, and the surface cleansed of all contaminants. The sculpture was then re-patinated and Incralac was applied to the surface. Three coats of Carnauba wax completed the Historic Restoration.

“The Doughboy,” WWI SOLDIER

Amesbury, Massachusetts

“The Doughboy,” a nickname given to Army and Marine Corps soldiers who crossed the Atlantic in WWI was sculpted by Leonard Craske in 1929. The statue stands 10 feet tall on its four-foot tall base. Buccacio Sculpture Services restored its pasty green, heavily corroded color back to its shiny original bronze color in 2014. We removed the years of heavy corrosion build-up, cleansed the bronze surface of all contaminants then re-patinated the sculpture.

DALIN INDIAN CHIEF BUST 1929

This familiar Indian Head was missing several pieces. With the original pieces an armature was constucted, and the missing pieces were sculpted. Molds were made then cast in plaster and re-attached to the original sculpture. The finished piece of art was then painted and restored to its original state.