Draft_SOW.docx

Draft

STANDING LINCOLN PROJECT

Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site Cornish, New Hampshire

SCOPE OF WORK

Description and Summary of Project

· Conserve the “Standing Lincoln” plaster working model by Augustus Saint-Gaudens in the Saint Gaudens National Historic Site Museum Collection.

· Fabricate molds from the conserved plaster sections (twenty-one sections).

· Cast a reproduction “Standing Lincoln” bronze by a qualified foundry.

· Prepare location and install granite base and the bronze sculpture on site at Saint Gaudens National Historic Site. Installation must be completed by August 21, 2015.

Provide park with proof of Insurance, as well as information of security and fire suppression in the facility. Per NPS Museum Handbook, Part Two, 5:10.1 (Found here: http://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/MHI/mushbkI.html) and Conditions for Outgoing Loans (Form 10-127a).

Work will be accomplished in the following increments:

Phase I: Crating (February 23, 2015-March 6)

· Contractor will follow Treatment Proposal provided by park and perform the following: Fabricate shipping crates, Crate 21 plaster segments of heroic-scaled sculpture of Abraham Lincoln at Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site. Transport crated plasters to secure facility for conservation and restoration of plasters, using a certified art handler approved by the park. Transport guidance Per NPS Museum Handbook, Part One, Chapter 6. Security guidance per NPS Museum Handbook, Part One, Chapter 9.

Phase II: Conservation and Restoration of Plasters (March 6 –April 3, 2015)

· Conserve 21 plaster segments, and restore missing areas of foot, chair back and legs, and smaller areas of torso, legs, hands, head and face. Work to be completed in the technique, style and “feel” of Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Per NPS Museum Handbook, Part One, Chapter 8.

· All finish work to be done in plaster conservation phase to make the plaster working sections completely accurate in fit, form and detail to be molded and to cast the bronze.

· Clean surface dirt. Removal of ingrained dirt and stains not necessary.

· Reconstruction to be done with appropriate permanent materials such as plaster, vinyl fill materials or plastic filler. All loss of design/figurative relief elements must be completed with the precision and accuracy of the original Standing Lincoln bronze by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. (Lincoln Park, Chicago, 1887.) Historic images for reference provided by park. Contractor must provide studio meeting for SAGA Curator to approve finished conservation of plasters.

Phase III: Mold Making (April 6 – April 20, 2015)

· Fabricate rubber molds of all individual plaster segments suitable for casting. When work is completed, 21 plasters returned to park in original crates, using a certified art handler. Submission of final Treatment Report with before and after images to park two weeks after completion of conservation and restoration work.

· Ship crated molds to bronze foundry.

Phase IV: Bronze Casting (work to start no later than April 21, 2015)

· Foundry must be qualified to cast heroic-scaled work. Photos and descriptions of past similar scaled work to be approved by the park before work begins. Cast in bronze using the lost wax process. Cast using silicon bronze alloy. Use silicon bronze welding rods for joints. Park approves final bronze pour of molds before brazing and chasing begins.

· Park approves brazing and chasing (welding and finishing) before application of patina.

· Before patina applied the park to approve samples provided by foundry. Hot chemical patina applied to match exactly the original bronze sculpture in Lincoln Park, Chicago. Finished patina appearance to be approved by park.

· Apply hot wax coating of clear microcrystalline paste wax as protective coating.

Phase V: Site Preparation (Start no later than July 21, 2015)

· Excavate, form and pour concrete pad at grade level in location at Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site chosen by park. Place grey granite steel finished block of stone consisting of base (lower tier) and die (upper tier) 5’10” x 8’10” x 1’4” and 8’ x 5’ x 2’8”. Stone placed on concrete pad. Fill to be removed by park. Contractor will restore landscape surrounding to original appearance.

· Transport bronze sculpture using a method approved by the park.

Phase VI: Installation (no later than August 17, 2015)

· Date and time of installation approved by park. Install sculpture on base using at minimum four one inch diameter steel rods for mounting to base.

Project to be completed by August 21, 2015.

Background

The project provides critical conservation and restoration of a monumental plaster sculpture of "Abraham Lincoln: The Man (Standing Lincoln)" (ICMS # SAGA 9258, accession # 556) by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The original bronze is in Chicago. This cast was used in 1965 for a bronze cast in Mexico City, gift of the United States. The 12-foot tall plaster has not been conserved since that time, and requires critical care for its preservation.

Conservation will also allow the park to create and exhibit a modern bronze cast of the sculpture at the park, as identified in the park 2009 Collections Management Plan (CMP). The timing of this project is critical. 2015 coincides with a number of important dates including the 150th anniversary of the death of Abraham Lincoln and the end of the Civil War. It also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Saint-Gaudens NHS. The unveiling will be the signature event at the end of the Civil War Sesquicentennial and anniversary of Saint-Gaudens NHS in September, 2015.

Objectives

The success of the project depends on the vendor having extensive knowledge and experience in all of the technical details of all phases of this project. In particular the Contractor for conservation of the plaster working model should have experience in conserving seriously damaged historic plaster working models to be used for casting a significant, historical, figurative, and bronze of monumental scale. It is the conservation phase (along with accurate molds) that determines the accurate sculptural quality of the bronze to be cast in this project. The selection of a Foundry with experience and technical expertise in producing a high quality bronze of monumental scale with appropriate patina is also crucial. Experience with conservation of plaster or bronze pieces by Augustus Saint-Gaudens are a significant factor contributing to the success of this project as well. Work to be accomplished following the Treatment Plan provided by the park.