Restored marble replicas return in spring

Historic City News reporters spoke with Cathy DuPont, Public Information Coordinator for the City of St. Augustine, to determine the status of the long absent lions from the plaza at each side of the west end of the bridge.

The lions were a gift of the late Dr. Andrew Anderson (1839–1924) and are considered irreplaceable. For that reason, the City is taking their protection seriously and won’t publically disclose their present location.

The two Carrara marble lion statues were removed when the city began renovating the bridge in 2005. The lions are copies of those found in the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence, Italy. Two local artists restored the lions, removing dirt, dust and damage that have accumulated since the 1920’s.

DuPont told Historic City News editor Michael Gold that the city has already advertised for a contractor to move the lions back to their permanent location. The exact date of the move will not be announced in advance; again, to protect the rigging crew and the massive sculptures from any possible interference or vandalism while they are being returned to their original location.

“They have already been packaged by the contractor and ready for move,” DuPont told us.

In December, Jim Piggott, Director of General Services in St. Augustine, said that he had some pictures taken after the lions were restored and before they were packaged for the move. DuPont forwarded the photographs to us to be published.

“Look for the lions to be back this spring,” DuPont said. The City is working around the final landscaping installation schedule.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News contributed photograph by City of St. Augustine