Journal of Architectural Conservation
Volume 16, Issue 2, July 2010
The New York Public Library: Protective Treatment for Sugaring Marble
A. Elena Charola, Silvia A. Centeno, Kyle Normandin
Paper Summary
The marble of the New York Public Library was found to be in a fairly good state of conservation except for the more exposed elements, such as quoins and the many delicately carved elements that decorate the building. This paper focuses on the treatment developed for areas that showed significant sugaring. For this purpose, laboratory examinations and analyses were carried out and preliminary tests were made with silicate ester-based consolidants. These, however, did not perform well in test studies and therefore an approach using inorganic materials was developed. The treatment consisted of spray application of an ammonium oxalate solution that reduced the intensive sugaring of the marble. To further protect these eroded surfaces, a shelter coat based on Type S hydrated dolomitic lime was also applied. This method is fully compatible with the marble substrate and follows the overriding principle of minimum intervention, as stated by the Venice Charter.
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Figure 2 Marble erosion, sugaring and flaking at scroll brackets supporting the cornice.
Figure 4 View of surface loss resulting from delamination.
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A. Elena Charola, Phd (Chemistry)
Dr Charola is currently in private practice in Buenos Aires, consulting mainly to the World Monuments Fund and its Portuguese affiliate. She is an Associate Researcher to the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute and a Lecturer in the Graduate Program in Historic Preservation of the University of Pennsylvania and the Raymond Lemaire International Centre of the Catholic University in Leuven, Belgium.
Silvia A. Centeno, PhD (Chemistry)
Dr Centeno has been at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MMA), in New York, since 1996 where she is now a Research Scientist in the Department of Scientific Research. She has authored numerous articles in peer reviewed scientific, conservation, and art history publications.
Kyle Normandin, BA, MSConservation
Kyle Normandin is an Associate Principal with Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc., in New York City, New York. He is a member of numerous professional organizations dedicated to the protection of cultural heritage and has authored many technical papers on various topics related to architectural conservation internationally.
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