1997
RESTORATION OF MONUMENTS
restoration of three
monuments in Prato's
historical center
|
project start
date |
1997 |
|
restoration
period |
1997-1999 |
|
location |
Prato , Italy |
|
client |
City of Prato |
|
architect |
Marco Meozzi ,
Architect |
|
hydraulics |
Luca Vannucchi ,
Engineer |
|
supervision |
Marco Meozzi ,
Architect |
|
restoration work |
Ditta Meridiana
Restauri s.r.l |
-restoration of the 'Pescatorello'
Fountain - Piazza del
Duomo
The Pescatorello (or
Fisherboy)
Fountain, also known as
the 'Goose Fountain' was
made in 1863 from a
design by Mariano
Falcini and sculpted by
Emanuele Caroni and
Ulisse Cambi.
The fountain, sourced by
the aqueduct, did not
recycle its water, thus
wasting water and
promoting large calcium
deposits and areas of
moss growth.
The restoration project
called for the recycling
of the water, its
filtering and
sterilization,
guaranteeing excellent
treatment, a suitable
percentage of salinity
and balanced pH. A
concentration of
chlorine eliminated the
processes of
incrustation and
corrosion as well as
impeded the formation
and growth of plant
life.
The water treatment
plant for sourcing and
recycling were situated
in a small space,
completely underground.
The fountain also had
problems because some of
its marble parts were in
a bad state of
conservation:surface
deposits of a biological
and travertine-like
nature were seen, there
were some dark patches,
places where the marble
was detached and
crumbling. All the
marble surfaces were
cleaned, consolidated
and restored.
Night lighting was also
designed and installed.
-restoration of the
sculpture “Square Form
with Cut” by Henry Moore
- Piazza S. Marco
Henry Moore's ‘Square
Form with Cut‘, carried
out between 1969-71, was
installed on the site
where the Porta
Fiorentina gateway once
penetrated the city
walls.
The sculpture, in veined
white Carrara marble, is
truly monumental in size
(reaching a height of
5,48 m. and a weight of
about 170 tons);
executed at the Henraux
workshop in Pietrasanta,
it is composed of thirty
horizontal elements
layered and united by
synthetic adhesives.
On the sculpture's
surface there were
evident signs of
corrosion in the parts
most exposed to
atmospheric agents as
well as much dirt, the
so-called 'black
crusts'. Some areas had
been damaged by acts of
vandalism such as
writing and graffiti.
The restoration work,
carried out free of
charge by the Meridiana
Restauri company of
Florence, called for the
application of chemical
packs (ammonium
carbonate in deionized
water) to remove the
dirt as well as for the
consolidation of
chipping and peeling
areas; small missing
fragments were
integrated via the use
of stucco with an
elastomeric binder and a
marble-dust base.
Moreover the fountain
was protected against
atmospheric agents and
vandals' writings by
means of a suitable
waterproofing treatment.
The lower part of the
monument, more exposed
to the risk of
vandalism, was protected
with a special and
reversible product.
-restoration of the
monument to Giuseppe
Mazzoni - Piazza del
Duomo
Created by the sculptor
Alessandro Lazzerini,
the statue of Giuseppe
Mazzoni, an important
“man of democracy” and
Prato free-mason, was
inaugurated in 1897,
amid debate on the
choice of its site.
The sculpture's surface
was dirty and had wide
areas of corrosion on
the parts most exposed
to atmospheric agents.
There were some parts
that had been damaged by
vandalism.
The restoration work,
carried out by the
Meridiana Restauri
company of Florence,
called for dirt removal
via the
application of chemical
packs (ammonium
carbonate in deionized
water) to remove the
dirt as well as for the
consolidation of
chipping and peeling
areas by the application
of fluid epoxy. Two
fingers on the right
hand were also redone by
premodelling white
plasticine and then
later making a model.
Small missing fragments
were integrated via the
use of stucco with an
elastomeric binder and a
marble-dust base. The
statue was also
protected against both
atmospheric agents and
vandals' writings.