The production of a copy of the large Ludovisic battle sarcophagus

Abstract

In two paragraphs, the moulding and copying of the famous battle sarcophagus in the Museum Altemps in Rome, formerly in the Ludovisi Collection, is described. The first paragraph deals with the difficult moulding of this marble sarcophagus with high and undercut relief. Silicon rubber was used as moulding material, strengthened with a capsule of hardened plaster of Paris. In the second paragraph the forming is described. Several layers of epoxy resin and a mixture of acrylic resin and plaster reinforced with glass fibre tissue (Polydur lamination system of the Ebalta Kunststoff GmbH, Rothenburg o.d. Tauber, Germany) were applied. This product is less harmful to health, easier to apply, has a higher strength, and due to its neutral white color it can be applied to a wide range of purposes.