Restoration underway for historic vase pedestals at Plaza del Congreso

The iconic decorative vases adorning Buenos Aires' Plaza del Congreso are receiving a meticulous restoration, ensuring the preservation of their historical integrity for years to come. The project, focused on the ornate pedestals designed by French landscaper Carlos Thays over a century ago, is being carried out by the Monuments and Works of Art (MOA) team and is slated for completion by early 2027.

This extensive effort involves the intervention of 36 complete moldings attached to the eight pedestals that support the large decorative vases. These elements, originally part of Thays' design for the city's Centennial celebrations in 1910, are being carefully restored or reproduced. Original project plans, signed by Thays himself in March 1910, are housed in the Buenos Aires Historical Archive, providing crucial guidance for the restoration.

The bases of the vases are constructed from brick masonry. According to art historian Silvina González of MOA, the restoration process includes removing existing moldings, transporting them to the workshop, and then creating molds for reproduction. The new moldings are crafted from reinforced cement mortar. Each pedestal stands approximately three meters tall, and below the moldings, they feature garlands with floral motifs.

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Las bases de los jarrones están construidas en mampostería de ladrillos. Dependiendo la situación de cada caso, las molduras se ponen en valor o se reproducen. El tratamiento de la intervención consiste en el retiro de molduras, o de partes existentes, y el traslado al taller. Allí se realiza el modelado, molde y reproducción de las molduras en mortero de cemento reforzado

Detailed in the Guide to Buenos Aires Cultural Heritage, the eight vases, described as having bases decorated with "an interweaving of acanthus leaves and a border of palmettes," were manufactured from cast iron by the Val d’Osne Foundry. The designs are attributed to French sculptor Pierre Rouillard. The handles are formed by volutes and acanthus leaves, culminating in ram heads, adding a distinctive artistic flair.

At the MOA workshop, located in Parque Tres de Febrero, the masonry bases are also being restored. "The reliefs are attached," explains González, "and finally, the work on the base and the molding is unified through painting." Twenty-three professionals are engaged in various tasks within the MOA. The vases, which Thays referred to as "decorative vessels," sit atop the pedestals, serving as both stylish planters and elevated perches offering views of the National Congress.

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Se adosando los relieves. Y, finalmente, se unifica el trabajo en la base y la moldura a través de trabajos de pintura