BRADLEY SANDERS
RIGGING for ARTIFACT MOUNTING
Antioch Mosaics
Project: 
Rigging and installation of Antioch Mosaics
Rigging and installation of Antioch MosaicsTask:
1.Design, fabricate, and install steel mounts for 3 large Mosaics, each weighing approximately 1,500 lbs each.
Design, fabricate, and install steel mounts for 3 large Mosaics, each weighing approximately 1,500 lbs each.2.Install Mosaics at 30' high in a vertical 14' x 14' atrium space with white marble floor. The use of powered or wheeled lifting machines not an option.
Install Mosaics at 30' high in a vertical 14' x 14' atrium space with white marble floor. The use of powered or wheeled lifting machines not an option.
UNCRATING AND SETUP
The Mosaics were moved from Dumbarton Oaks storage facility by truck and lifted onto the balcony of the new Library and Administrative Building with a sky crane by others. Sanders personnel took possession of the crated mosaics on the balcony. The mosaics were uncrated and inspected by a Conservator.
Our Adjustable Center Beam Gantry was positioned above the crated mosaic, and a custom lifting frame was attached and adjusted to fit.
The mosaic was lifted and tilted to accomodate our custom designed "Moon Cart" . The cart was designed with a tilting bed controlled by two hydraulic pistons. The purpose of the tilting bed is to adjust the bed positioning for moving to the installation site.
POSITIONING for "MOON CART"
MOVING "MOON CART" INTO PLACE
MOSAIC on 'MOON CART"
Here the cart is being positioned beneath the beam gantry and the mosaic is being settled into place. The purpose of the tilting bed is to allow the mosaic to travel easily through constricted areas and doorways.
All rigging and moving equipment was designed, fabricated, and operated by Sanders Museum Services.
POSITIONING HYDRAULICS
MOVING to INSTALLATION SITE
and INSTALLATION
LIFTING FRAME and BEAM GANTRY
Even with the Moon Cart, the path was a tight squeeze. No space for industrial equipment.
It was critical for each rig to be adjustable to fit all 3 mosaics. Shown here is the Clamping Rig, which was attached when each mosaic was uncrated, and carried each to the lift and up onto the wall, where it was detached when the mosaic was secure.
Note: All mosaics were previously mounted in steel frames with hooks corresponding to the wall mounts to be used in this installation.
The three-story atrium in which the mosaics were to be installed was too narrow to use lift equipment; and the floor was white marble, further precluding the use of heavy equipment.
The solution was to install three eyebolts in the concrete ceilings which would carry 5,000 lbs each. The mosaics weighed about 1,500 lbs each. An appropriate support was built into the ceiling by the project architect.
To provide a secure winching space on the floor, two 1/4" thick steel plates were bolted to the floor, to which the lift engines were mounted. A third line, the safety line, was attached from the ceiling, and was attached to mechanical winch, which was kept in tension with the mosaics as they were lifted.
The final positions. The top 2 mosaics were covered to protect them from the rigging chain as the final mosaic was installed.
Other Dumbarton Oaks and related Installations
ONE OF THREE MOSAICS
CONTENTS:
