The object is a replica model of Nelson’s Column, which stands in Trafalgar Square in London. It forms part of the collections at Beamish Museum.
On each face of the Column there is a brass shield in the shape of a stylized anchor. Each shield has a portrait in the centre. The portraits include: Nelson, the HMS Victory, “Trafalgar October 12 1805,” and Nelson’s famous quote “England expects every man will do his duty.”
The original Nelson’s Column was built to commemorate Admiral Horatio Nelson, who died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
The monument was constructed between 1840 and 1843 to a design by William Railton and was built using Dartmoor granite. The statue of Nelson was carved from Craigleith sandstone. The four bronze lions around its base were added in 1867.
The pedestal is decorated with four 18 feet square bronze relief panels, cast from captured French guns. They depict the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, the Battle of the Nile, the Battle of Copenhagen and the death of Nelson at Trafalgar.
Condition
- Thick layer of dirt on the surface of the column
- Iron corrosion is visible on the internal support rod
- There are a number of sections missing from the replica
- The statue of Nelson shows signs of damage and of a previous repair
- There are a number of pieces which have become detached.
- The coating on the lions and on Nelson has deteriorated and is missing in several areas.
Conservation
The colum was initially partially deconstructed in order to be able to treat all necessary areas. An initial clean of the Column was achieved mechanically using a combination of soft brushes and a museum vacuum. Further cleaning of more ingrained dirt was achieved using a conservation sponge.
The interior support rod was removed and the surface corrosion was removed using mechanical methods and a lubricant to prevent scratching of the original surface. The support rod was then coated using microcrystalline wax to help protect it from deterioration.
The brass shields, lions, and Nelson were all wet cleaned using cotton wool swabs with an appropriate solvent. This removed the old, degraded coating while also removing surface dirt.
The old repair to the Nelson statue was taken down using an appropriate solvent. The break edges were cleaned of old adhesive and the figure was reassembled and adhered together. The missing areas of the statue were not replicated. It was then reattached to the top of the Column.
All detached sections of the Column were reattached to their original locations using a suitable adhesive and allowed to cure. Missing sections were replicated by creating moulds from existing sections. Modostuc was used to fill the moulds and once cured the pieces were sanded down and colour matched using acrylic paints before being adhered to the Column.