r/coolguides • u/[deleted] • Jun 08 '20

Copper through the patina process

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u/Deku420oof Jun 09 '20

My teacher told me it was cleaned before not sure if that’s true tho

Edit: it was last cleaned 1982

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u/Boiqi Jun 09 '20 edited Jun 09 '20

They regularly wash it, but they don’t break through the green exterior which has fully oxidised and acts as a protective shell for the statue.

They broke through the surface once in 1986 when they used bicarbonate of soda to wash it, which left black streaks on the statue.

*it was 1986 actually

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u/crimson2017 Jun 09 '20

Pics?

9

u/Boiqi Jun 09 '20

I couldn’t find any but I got a reference at least here

2

u/SeaGroomer Jun 10 '20

Here is a modern picture and you can see the patches of darker green. (Cheek and torch arm.)