SITUATION

The Declaration of Independence is one of our nation’s most treasured documents. Over time, the unique hand-crafted frame has become worn down, leaving its intricacies muted and details eroded.

Manufacturing at the turn of the century was mostly done by hand, therefore there is no record of the original design from 1924. Several attempts were made to recreate the frame using conventional bronze sculpting techniques. The results however did not meet the standards of the National Archives and Records Administration.

SOLUTION

Our team was contracted to make a final attempt at the frame’s restoration. Pioneering new techniques in combining 3D scanning with digital restoration, our engineers were successful in recreating and restoring the frame. By using 3D scanning technologies, our team reworked the patterns and details digitally without risking damage to the one-of-a-kind frame. Our engineers enhanced the faded features such as the leaf patterns, the stem, the flowers, and the seeds. The bronze medallions were recreated with a rounder look to fit the newly curved frame shape. After exceeding expectations, the data was sent to the casting company for manufacturing.

RESULTS

The client went though two different companies in five years trying to restore the frame. Neither company was successful. Our team successfully and impressively completed the project, supplying the casting company with CAD data that would be used to manufacture a fully restored frame. The client has already commissioned our team to help restore the frames of the Constitution and the American Originals exhibit, trusting in our company’s ability to supply the highest quality 3D scanning services.