The restoration of Paul Manship’s “Celestial Sphere” for the United Nations Building in Geneva continues. The Sculpture is placed in Geneva.


The internal original bronze skeleton of the Sphere has been restored, the various fractures and cracks have been welded, the surfaces have been cleaned and patinated again.
The sculptures of the constellations, restored and regilded with gold leaf, are reassembled on the internal skeleton.
The originally iron outer skeleton has been replaced with an identical stainless steel skeleton.
The bronze base has been restored and reinforced, stainless steel pins have been applied to discharge the weight of the Monument onto the concrete base, without weighing down on the bronze as before.
The UN Commission came to the Foundry to test the restoration and movement of the Sphere.
The technicians approved the work, complimenting Marinelli. They were fascinated by the new numerically controlled rotation system designed and manufactured by the company Lanaro srl, our subcontractor.
With a special load, the sphere reaches the Park of the United Nations Palace in Geneva, and the assembly begins at the final location.
After the execution of the reinforced concrete plinth inside the tank that houses the Sphere, the base of the large sculpture was assembled, on which the entire Sphere was then mounted.
The electronic system that allows the Sphere to rotate according to the inclined axis like that of the earth at variable speed, both during the day and at night, with the application of colored lighthouses, has been tested.
The last checks and retouches of the gilding, waiting for the monument to be publicly inaugurated at the end of the construction works of the entire garden of the United Nations Palace.

The restoration of the Celestial Sphere had great resonance in the media. RAI also produced a very in-depth report on the entire operation (read the news here).

See also UNITED NATIONS BUILDING IN GENEVA – RESTORATION OF PAUL MANSHIP’S “CELESTIAL SPHERE”

Read also the News THE RESTORATION OF THE CELESTIAL SPHERE BY PAUL MANSHIP OF THE UN PALACE IN GENEVA.

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