Oldenburg sculpture with polyurethane reversion

I would be grateful to hear from anyone who has worked with one of
the series of polyurethane sculptures by Claes Oldenburg entitled
Soft Screw. Thirty-one sculptures in this series were cast by Gemini
G.E.L. between 1974 and 1976, and some of them exhibit "reversion",
evidenced by the polyurethane becoming sticky and viscous.

A museum client owns one of these degraded sculptures.  It is intact
except for the last few inches of the tip of the screw.  Photos are
available at:

    <URL:http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/8686753_isncf>

We are exploring display and treatment options.  Possibly the
sculpture will be exhibited as-is, with didactic labeling explaining
it's condition.  However, we would welcome input from anyone who has
treated a Soft Screw or faced a similar treatment dilemma.  Have you
tried to remove the drips of sticky material?  How did that go? Have
you created a replica to replace the lost material?  How did you
attach it?  What about taking molds from intact versions or
commissioning a replacement tip from the original fabricators/molds?

Meghan Thumm Mackey
Objects Conservator
Middleton, Wisconsin


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 24:47
                 Distributed: Wednesday, April 13, 2011
                       Message Id: cdl-24-47-021
                                  ***