Sphinxes

Two stone sphinxes by E. Gray Saunders are the only surviving statuary from Matthew Boulton's estate.

The sphinxes were in need of surface cleaning to prepare them for one of the major exhibitions in BMAG called 'Matthew Boulton - Selling what all the World Desires'. The surface dirt, which was a result of being touched by public when on open display in the galleries, was gently removed with lightly damp cotton wool. The remaining dirt was removed with swabbing the surface with other solvents on cotton wool. This sequence of cleaning was the most appropriate cleaning technique and it gave the best result.