The Story of Union's Chinese Stone Lion

Items

• 
  Kate Breitenstein, Intern to Helene Gillette-Woodard, former Head of Objects Department, at the Williamstown Art Conservation Center, Dec. 14, 2023 (photo credit: WACC)
• 
  Chinese Stone Lion restoration, back side with name inscription

  Conservation of the Chinese Stone Lion in June 2024 after paint removal.
• 
  Chinese Stone Lion restoration, back side

  Conservation of the Chinese Stone Lion in June 2024 after paint removal.
• 
  Removing the Chinese stone lion from campus, July 2021
• 
  New “U” for painting traditions
• 
  Photo showing students “giving the Idol its coat of neutral white,” Moving Up Day, 1914.
• 
  Paint Fight at the IDOL Summer 1945
• 
  The Reverend John Marshall Willoughby Farnham, Union Class of 1856
• 
  Image of lions in front of a temple
• 
  Lions at the helm of the Spirit Road from a 2nd century site
• 
  Two lions that have similar stylistic features to Union's work
• 
  Chinese Lion After
• 
  Chinese Lion Before
• 
  Restoration at Williamstown Conservation Center

  Conservation of the Chinese Stone Lion in June 2024 after paint removal.
• Conservation is completed; Lion is placed between Olin and Wold buildings on Union College's campus.
• 
  Cross-section of paint layers

  A cross-section show layers of paint on the Chinese stone lion.
• 
  Paint removal on the Chinese Stone Lion

  Scott Cober, associate conservator at the Williamstown Art Conservation Center, removes layers of paint from the Chinese stone lion on Dec. 1, 2022
• 
  Conservation begins on lion.
• Stone lion removed for restoration.
• Lion has been rendered nearly unidentifiable, covered with paint.
• "U" sculpture installed to replace Chinese stone lion.
• Students on campus made aware of history of stone lion, in contrast to 1874.
• UC History & Symbols committee formed to review campus landscape.
• Commemorative statues of "The Idol" were created in plaster for sale.