Irish Connection

Abstract

Describes the process of reproduction of the Richmond Monument in Richmond, Virginia. The monument was erected in 1814 in memory of the victims of a fire at a local theater. The American architect Robert Mills converted the theater into a church, where the monument was placed. Although the church underwent restoration work in 2004, the monument, made from Carrara marble, was critically decaying. Historic Richmond Foundation decided to exhibit a reproduction of the monument and preserve the original to avoid the risk of further loss of detail. A handmade reproduction, however, was not feasible with the available funds. Consequently, a 3-D laser scan was made of the monument. The files were sent to an Irish company that handles computer numerical control (CNC) machines, which use the 3-D scans to reproduce the carvings. The lost details that could not be recovered from the scan were finished by hand by the same Irish company. Thassos marble was chosen as the new material.