How Do You Move an Aztec Deity? Very Carefully!

The process undertaken by Villa installers and conservators to mount ancient objects is slow and steady

By McKenzie Lowry

Apr 06, 2010

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Objects you see in the galleries at the Getty Villa, whether monumental or miniature, weighing a few ounces or several tons, all require careful and complicated work to install.

As a conservation mount maker, I’ve just finished working with my colleagues in the Department of Antiquities Conservation to make sure that the wonderful and rare objects on loan to us from major museums in Mexico for the current exhibit The Aztec Pantheon and the Art of Empire were handled carefully and installed safely in the Villa galleries.

That’s not always easy, especially when the objects are large, heavy, and fragile.

We wrap the sculptures using strong slings that are soft and non-abrasive and then lift them into place, inch by inch. Getting the right distribution of the straps so an object is well balanced when picked up by our overhead cranes can take an hour or more, but the time and the caution are all worth it—and part of my job.

The objects are carefully positioned by the installation team and then held in place by mounts that we custom-make for each object. These mounts keep the objects from falling or moving on their pedestals in case of an earthquake (always a threat here in Southern California). Some mounts include interfaces under the object. Interfaces are synthetic resin forms cast to fit the contour of the object exactly.

By using an interface, we can distribute the load of the sculpture evenly so it isn’t just resting on a few points. The interfaces are not attached to the object, but provide a uniform “pillow” for the objects to rest on. Because the interface is attached to the pedestal, it also prevents the object from sliding. Mounts take on many forms, including clips to hold the object down and prevent both vertical and horizontal motion during an earthquake.

Small delicate objects require the same attention. While they are easier to move, they still require mounts.

Our work is rarely seen. And that’s the way it should be. It is important that these objects be fully protected from the dangers of earthquakes, but the mounts that protect them should not detract from your enjoyment of the art.

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