Replication & Restoration
Cast Iron Urns
History of the Bow Bridge and Urns
Bow Bridge is one of the most iconic and photographed features of Central Park. Built in 1862, this Victorian-era bridge spans 60 feet across the Central Park Lake and connects Cherry Hill and the Ramble. Bow Bridge gets its name from its graceful arc shape which resembles that of an archer’s bow. It is the oldest cast-iron bridge in Central Park (also one of the only), and it is the second-oldest cast-iron bridge in the entire United States. It was designed by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould with Classical Greek refinement, incorporating elements of Gothic, Neo-Classical, and Renaissance design. Displayed along the top outer edges are eight cast-iron replicas of planting urns which originally adorned the bridge in the early 1900s. https://www.centralpark.com/things-to-do/attractions/bow-bridge/
The Project
Restoration included replacing eight 3.5 foot cast iron urns that were removed nearly 100 years earlier. Robinson Iron’s skilled craftsmen used historic images and one original urn previously kept in storage to create pattern work to replicate the urns in cast iron. Once completed, the urns received polychrome painting and were reinstalled at original locations on the bridge. Historical replication begins with recapturing the imaging, specifications, and details of the original piece. This process must be done with the utmost care and attention to detail to ensure historical accuracy. At Robinson Iron, we accomplish this goal by working from documentary photographs or utilizing existing historic castings, along with state-of-the-art digital laser scanning of the original piece(s) on-site, eliminating the need for costly removals while also faithfully capturing original details. Our engineering staff provides sound structural designs in keeping with the best in value engineering. Then, combining expert craftsmanship with time-honored foundry techniques, our skilled artisans craft the replication piece to the highest quality standards, using care to be faithful to the original down to the deepest detail.
About Robinson Iron
Restoration of historic landmarks, historic buildings, and other cultural resources of significance – these are the keys to preserving the beauty of our heritage and our public spaces. Robinson Iron is an established, highly qualified firm specializing in the restoration and preservation of historical cast iron, aluminum, and bronze, including cast metal facades, art pieces, and sculpted ornamentations adorning historic properties throughout the United States and beyond.
