Marble Console Tables

The Boettcher collection at the Colorado Governor’s Residence contains several Carrara marble sculptures. The Palm room, the Palm Dining Room, and Well room hold a large amount of marble. It is apparent that the Boettchers were fond of Neo Classical Italian works and materials. Four marble sculptures in particular stand out based on their location, size, and the intricate carving details and motifs. This paper will focus on the symbolism and materials of the two marble console tables with mythological animal bases, the marble well head that the Well Room is named after, and the marble Ave Maria Plaque located in the Library.
Marble Console Tables
The two matching tables have mythological creatures for their bases. Throughout the files and inventories, they were described as “sphinx” and “griffin” tables. However, the creatures are neither sphinxes nor griffins. Sphinxes are characterized as creatures with lion bodies and human heads and griffins are eagle headed lions with …show more content…
Marble requires regular cleaning by conservators annually. When cleaning, a conservator makes sure that each step is done uniformly. “Because marble is a porous substance, cleaning can proceed more easily if the statue is prepared by gently heating its surface with warm, then progressively hotter, water. The order of application of solvents, soaps, and reagents should always proceed from the weakest to the strongest.” If part of the sculpture breaks, pick up all the pieces and lay them flat on a tray or in a box to prevent the pieces from abrading each other. “Find out if your insurance coverage includes breakage or devaluation from accidents before you decide on a treatment.” A conservator should be contacted immediately in the event of vandalism because the materials, such as ink or lipstick, seep into porous surfaces making removal harder the longer it stays on the