A long journey comes to an end. Roughly 55 years after the construction of Henk Krijger’s (1914-1979) sculpture, Hert, an assortment of restoration practices have brought it back to life.

An extensive amount of rust had formed on the metal portions: the head, legs, hindquarters and ribs. The cedar driftwood, comprising the body, had degraded into rot and had lost its structural ability.

With the sculpture dissembled, the individual parts were cleaned and prepared for gilding.

The cedar body was replaced and carved down to the size and shape of the original.

A large portion of the antlers had to be reconstructed.

Putting it all together, using the same techniques as the artist.

Final shots still to come.