CONSERVATION CLEANING AND REPAIR OF STATUES

The Grade II listed Fountain of Triton and Nereids (the North Fountain, owned by the National Trust) by sculptor Giuliano Mozani at Waddesdon Manor required a programme of repair work.

The original water display of the North Fountain became subdued due to age and the subsequent inefficiency of the pipework and pumping system. Previous repairs to the sculptures had started to fail, and several of the sculptures’ extremities exhibited movement, necessitating stabilisation.

The Rothschild Foundation appointed the expertise of Cliveden Conservation, who collaborated closely with fountain engineer Mark Oliver (Water and Light Ltd). The project’s aims were to stabilise the condition of the sculptures, sensitively drill two new holes into the cement-rendered plinths to accommodate new water jets and renew the fountain’s pipework and pumping system.

Conservation Work Undertaken 

A conservation clean was conducted to remove areas of biological soiling and allow conservators to assess the surface’s condition. Open joints were carefully raked out and grouted using lime-based grout before applying lime-based mortar repairs. Any areas that could act as a water trap were meticulously filled.

Mortar samples were made in advance to achieve a good colour and texture match. It was important to create a mortar strong enough to withstand a large amount of water flow without an excessively high compressive strength that would risk accelerating deterioration to the surrounding surfaces.

Areas of movement were identified and stabilised by removing failed joints, resin, and ferrous fixings. New fixings were installed using marine-grade stainless steel threaded dowels, which were secured with conservation grade resin. The joints were then pointed with lime-based mortars to complete the stabilisation work.

Acoustic testing identified the hollow-sounding areas evident on the rendered plinths. Trials were conducted to inject hydraulic grout between the render and core by drilling into the hollow-sounding areas, flushing out the holes, and injecting the grout.
To update the pipework, the rendered plinths were carefully drilled to access the plumbing within. Great care was taken to reach the right location and avoid
multiple unnecessary holes, which could undermine the structural integrity of the plinths.

Additional work to repair and re-waterproof the bowl’s interior was undertaken by other contractors.

Results

The faithful restoration of the North Fountain was a collaborative effort between Cliveden Conservation and fountain engineer Mark Oliver. The statues have now been successfully stabilised, and the overall condition and appearance of the fountain is greatly improved. The new brass nozzles have also enhanced the fountain’s visual appearance.

Installing a water treatment pumping system has improved the water’s circulation and quality. The new control system means the water display is more reliable and can be adjusted according to the weather. The project has helped to lower the amount of future maintenance and provided a sustainable solution for the fountain.

Cliveden Conservation Winter Covers are now being used to protect the sculptures from winter weather damage.