The Benjamin Franklin Statue, located in the foyer of the National Postal Museum, is an iconic fixture at the museum. Popular as a backdrop for group photos, museum visitors often touch the marble statue and rub the figure’s shoes for good luck.
Although the structural integrity of the sculpture is in good condition, 72 years of public display and visitor contact render the marble statue dirty and in need of a thorough surface cleaning.
In February 2008, object conservator Cathy Valentour came to the museum, conducted a condition survey of the statue and proposed a treatment plan to treat the statue in August and preserve its refreshed condition for years to come.

The Condition of the Statue
Overall, the statue is dusty, dirty and particularly soiled in the lower areas of the figure’s cape, legs and shoes where visitors can reach the sculpture. The surface of the shoes is worn and shiny from repeated rubbing by visitors. On the back of the statue, there are crayon marks and below his right shoe, there is a piece of gum stuck underneath. Additionally there is minor scratching and chipping prevalent on the statue. The pedestal, made of a purple marble, has deep scratches and soap stains along the bottom from routine maintenance of the museum’s floor.

Worn shoes   Gum underneath shoe Worn shoes   Gum underneath shoe

Photographic Documentation
The first step to any conservation treatment is to take Before Treatment pictures documenting the current condition of the artifact. During the course of this treatment, photographs are taken to capture any subtle or dramatic condition changes. When the treatment is complete, the conservator takes After Treatment photographs of the entire artifact to show the result. These photographs serve as vital records for caretakers.

Front before treatment   Zorach's signature and date Front before treatment   Zorach's signature and date

Spot Testing
Prior to treating the entire statue, the conservator has to decide what tools of the trade will be most effective and harmless in treating the marble. Less is more in the world of conservation. To determine the stability of the marble surface, Cathy Valentour performs spot tests by applying water and neutral soap to cotton swabs and a toothbrush and treating small sections of the statue. On the more soiled areas, she uses Ammonium citrate.

Spot testing with a cotton swab   Spot testing with a toothbrush Spot testing with a cotton swab   Spot testing with a toothbrush

The Treatment Begins
The conservator consults with the museum’s preservation department about the spot test results and proceeds with the treatment by using a vacuum with a high efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA) to remove surface dust and dirt from the entire statue. Then she begins removing the grime, crayon and other marks on the statue being careful not to treat too aggressively as to create color change in the marble surface.
The scratches along the base are sealed to minimize their appearance but chips in the marble are not restored.

Sealed and Buffed
Finally, to preserve the refreshed appearance of the statue, all the treated areas are sealed with microcrystalline wax and buffed. The overall treatment is expected to take three weeks to complete.

The Artist

Additional Resources:
New Deal Post Office Murals
Preservation Primer for Collectors