Gio Pomodoro Sculpture

Included in the Nelson Rockefeller collection of 20th century sculptures installed at Kykuit, The Rockefeller estate in Tarrytown, New York, a National Historic Landmark and a National Trust for Historic Perservation site, is a marble work by Gio Pomodoro. It consists of a single block of fine statuary grade Carrara marble carved overall with undulating biomorphic forms. It has suffered from deterioration from hyperthesis and biogrowth within the network cracking that had formed. A 1970’s treatment had complicated the conditions by developing a conversion crust on the face of the marble, which had become detached from the underlying stone and had encouraged further biocolonization. We carefully cleaned the soiling and biogrowth using a sequence of biocides, poutices, detergents and steam. A lead sheet cap was attached to the top of the form and shaped to match the complex profiles. Work was completed on time and under budget in 2012.