WhatsApp usNot every sculpture is destined to sit quietly on a plinth. Some arrive with real personalities – they are bright, bold and impossible not to stop and admire when they are in our studio.
This life-size fibreglass penguin was exactly that kind of artwork. He was a cheerful, characterful sculpture with the same eye-catching charm often found in city sculpture trails, public art walks and playful contemporary commissions.
Standing around one metre tall and created in 2020, the penguin had made the long journey from Australia before an unfortunate knock in transit left him with a broken beak and small chips to the painted surface. For such a distinctive sculpture, full of colour, pattern, and presence, even a small break made a noticeable difference and restoring his character became just as important as repairing the damage.
Restoring A Contemporary Fibreglass Sculpture
Contemporary sculptures like this require specialist care, often bringing together a variety of textures, materials and tones that each respond differently to treatment.
Once safely collected by our specialist art handling team, the penguin underwent a full assessment by our Objects Conservator, Amy. Her expertise extends beyond traditional ceramics and historic objects into the lively, colourful world of modern and contemporary sculpture, where each material can present its own unique conservation challenge.
The damage was thankfully localised, with a relatively clean break to the beak and only minor losses along the fracture line. Amy developed a treatment programme that included:
- Careful cleaning and preparation of the damaged area
- Structural reinforcement and bonding of the broken beak
- Filling of tiny losses along the break line
- Refinement of fills to recreate the original profile
- Specialist colour matching and retouching to integrate the repair with the existing finish
To provide additional long-term stability, a concealed dowel was inserted during the repair process, strengthening the beak while preserving the sculpture’s original appearance.
Bringing the Penguin Back to Life
One of the greatest challenges was matching the sculpture’s highly distinctive finish. The penguin features a vibrant blue-to-black gradient, with intricate splattered and dotted decorative effects across its surface. The dotwork has a lively, rhythmic quality reminiscent of native Australian art, making the painted surface central to the sculpture’s identity.
Recreating this finish required both technical conservation expertise and artistic sensitivity. Following bonding, filling and meticulous retouching, the repaired area blended beautifully with the surrounding decoration.
The result was a structurally secure repair that restored the sculpture’s character while remaining sympathetic to the artist’s original work.
From the first enquiry through to collection, treatment and return, our team worked closely with the owner to ensure complete confidence throughout the conservation process. Regular updates provided reassurance as the sculpture progressed through treatment, culminating in a successful restoration and safe return home.
A Happy Outcome
The completed restoration returned the penguin to display condition, with the repaired beak carefully reintegrated into the original design. The owner was delighted with the outcome and praised both the quality of the conservation work and the care taken throughout the process;
“Very many thanks for taking such great care of my penguin and restoring him to his glory! I promise to take better care of the penguin – he is safely in a cupboard awaiting transport to my new house in the care of a specialist art mover, in due course!
I will certainly turn to you, should I have a need for art restoration in the future and will also recommend you to others.”
Today, the penguin is safely awaiting pride of place in its new home, restored to its former glory and ready to be enjoyed for many years to come.
Do You Have a Fibreglass Sculpture in need of repair?
Our Objects Conservation team supports individuals, local councils, venues and organisations with the care of unusual sculptures, contemporary artworks, fibreglass figures, painted resin objects and public statues.
Whether your sculpture has been part of a city trail, charity sculpture walk, commercial display, public installation or private collection, we can help with accidental damage, cracks, missing sections, paint loss, surface wear and safe transport.
Contact Fine Art Restoration Company today for a no-obligation assessment and let our specialists help restore your sculpture’s colour, structure and character.
We also offer nationwide collection and delivery, as well as guidance on worldwide shipping to our studio.
