Torch of the Statue of Liberty

The copper metalwork was in two different forms. The much modified lower portion was an assemblage of shaped and formed copper strapping. The upper portion was shaped copper that had been cut out to accommodate retrofitted glass panes. Like the rest of the Statue, the shaped copper is repousse: sheets heated and formed with wooden hammers.

Mike understood that in those times, workers would join two pieces of hammered copper with solid rivets. One worker would put the rivet through the holes and another would hammer it on the other side so it would expand or ‘mushroom. Removal and re-installation of the solid copper rivets was a concern because the torch was so old and fragile. Our job: find a way of removing and replacing those rivets without damage.

Mike determined a simple brass bolt was the solution. Because brass is a soft metal, not only was it easy to shape, it also would not damage the pieces during reassembly.

This was predominantly Rambusch’s responsibility, and they created a baseline condition survey, conservation, and cleaning program. However, H&L were onsite to oversee and instruct on correct procedures during the dismantling, transport, and reassembly of the torch elements.

These details were already well established: the torch base was a copper and iron framework, and the flame was all copper. However replaced parts sometimes used fasteners that were not copper, so there were some dissimilar metal issues.

The torch’s fragile condition was well known to be the result of both its age and the many modifications made over the years, from the portholes added in 1886 to the replacement of a significant amount of copper with amber coloured glass in 1916. The modifications resulted in water damage and erosion making the process of dismantling, moving and reconstructing the torch a daunting task. It had been determined in the 1980s that the original torch was too damaged to be restored as part of the Statue of Liberty. But the importance of preserving the torch as a historic artifact was absolute.

The structure was inspected to insure that it could safely be moved once dismantled. Although very fragile, the H & L team was confident that because this piece was being relocated inside a museum its structural integrity would be secure. A new base was designed and fabricated for the torch to rest in. The foot was able to be reinstated without any modifications to the structural frame.

It took almost two years of consultation to devise the best plan for the torch. Heather and Little devised their plan over a period of three months. H&L visited the site to understand the challenges with the iconic museum piece of history. It was decided that both artifacts (the foot and Torch) would be broken down into two separate pieces each. The four pieces would be moved by the rigging company to the new museum. Heather and Little returned months later to oversee the reassembly.

Heather & Little’s role in the restoration was very specific. Creating three different lengths, H&L shop professionals grinded down the six-sided brass bolts so they would be round, and then hammered the tops to give them an authentic look. The bolts were then covered with solder, followed by a blue stone chemical to give them that aged copper appearance. The bolts that were created were exact replicas. H&L guided the disassembly of the torch and the replica foot. H&L instructed contractors to carefully drill out the original solid copper rivets to make disassembly possible. Once the pieces were moved to the new museum, the H&L team was again on hand for the re-assembly using the H&L fabricated brass bolts which were made into solid rivet replicas.