Garden Court Fountain Conservation

The Garden Court Fountain was installed in what had been an outdoor courtyard when the original Frick home was reconstructed as a museum in the 1930s, and was in continuous operation from the 1930s to the start of the museum’s major renovations in 2020. It consists of a pool that runs the length of the courtyard and central tiered set of basins and finial, all carved from St. Genevieve marble from Missouri. Two small bronze frogs spray towards the central feature, adding a whimsical touch to the elegant Beaux-Arts design.

The treatment of the fountain began with a condition assessment. There was displacement of the stonework, cracks in stone elements, and issues with the water display. We studied the construction and mechanical features, observed the water display, and researched the original plans and operations in drawings and historic photographs. We documented the deterioration and developed recommendations for treatments based on the study. 

Treatments included removing stains and mineral deposits from the marble fountain and perimeter wall, lightly polishing the surface, filling small cracks, and replacing larger losses with new marble carefully color-matched to the historic stone. The bronze frogs were cleaned and protective wax coatings were applied. EverGreene supervised upgrades to the fountain’s plumbing and waterproofing.