Fiberglass sculpture

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I  have entrusted to my care a full size fibreglass sculpture by
Alistair Smart that has been outside for about 30 years. It was
repaired previously where the rusted steel armiture was removed and
replaced with a stainless steel armiture and then the object was
then put pack outside on display. Now, the object has again cracked
along the the original joins. The original surface also shows signs
of surface deterioration of the resin, in the form of small losses
and a slight faded appearance. Similarly the previous repairs have
become very obvious by their different colour. Advice I have had
from commercial circles inclines me  to think that these problems
cannot be properly treated such that the problem will not occur
again. The institution that owns the object favours that the
original be substituted with a fibreglass replica and placed back in
the garden for curatorial reasons.

I am very interested to hear from anyone that has had experience
with the weathering of fibreglass sculptures who could advise me of
the various options which include either treating the original or
making a replica.

Justin Gare


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 17:42
                 Distributed: Friday, November 14, 2003
                       Message Id: cdl-17-42-037
                                  ***