Sculpture protection

A few simple practices can better protect your sculpture from danger. Foot traffic, sunlight exposure and dramatic temperature swings are the most common dangers to a sculpture.

As with any artwork, we recommend staging your most prized sculpture away from windows and doors. If you reside in an earthquake prone area of the country, your Risk Solutions advisor can recommend a professional adhesive to help better anchor your sculpture.

Bronze sculptures

While bronze is a resilient material, it is not free from risk. The potential to fade depends on the quality of bronze, its patina and exposure to smoke. Generally, temperature swings have little impact on bronze sculptures.

Glass sculptures

Glass is perhaps the most fragile of any material. To avoid breakage, glass sculptures should be displayed away from foot traffic and cleaned carefully with a feather duster.

Metal and stone sculptures

Sculptures made from granite, iron, marble, metal, stainless or weathering steel, tin or other stones are especially tolerant to sunlight, temperature change and smoke exposure. Scratching and surface abrasions can most often occur in areas of the home with heavy foot traffic.

Cloth and wood sculptures

Direct sunlight can cause plenty of damage to any cloth or wood sculpture. If left untreated, smoke will eventually degrade a wood sculpture and infiltrate the fibers of a cloth work. Cracking is a common occurrence for wood, especially for homes in dry regions of the country.

Acrylic sculptures

Acrylic sculptures have risen in popularity due to their resilience to heat and sunlight exposure. However, smoke can infiltrate acrylic artwork due to its porous nature, causing odor and residue. Foot traffic is particularly harmful, as acrylic materials scratch and break easily.