Difference between revisions of "Sphinxstone"

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[[File:Sphinxstone 04.jpg|thumb|Columns in Mellon Auditorium built with Sphinxstone<br>Courtesy of [http://www.citadeldca.com Citadel DCA]]]
 
==Description==   
 
==Description==   
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[Sphinx Acoustical Company] A cast acoustic building stone.
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[Sphinx-Tone Acoustical Company] An acoustic [[cast stone]] produced by the Sphinx-Tone Acoustical Company of Washington, D.C.  In 1934, Sphinxstone was used in the construction of the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Federal Triangle, Washington D.C., designed by architect Arthur Brown Jr. During restoration of the building, visual inspection of the deteriorated sections of the concrete blocks indicated the stones contain mollusk shells and white Portland cement.  Samples extracted for testing are undergoing analysis in preparation for cleaning and repairs (2022).
 
[[File:Sphinxstone label 2.png|thumb|Sphinxstone label]]
 
[[File:Sphinxstone label 2.png|thumb|Sphinxstone label]]
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==Additional images==
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<gallery>
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File:Sphinxstone 03.jpg|thumb|Closeup of Sphinxstone column<br>Courtesy of [http://www.citadeldca.com Citadel DCA]
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File:Sphinxstone Mellon.jpg|thumb|Closeup of Sphinxstone column base<br>Courtesy of [http://www.citadeldca.com Citadel DCA]
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File:Sphinxstone 01.jpg|thumb|Closeup of Sphinxstone column base<br>Courtesy of [http://www.citadeldca.com Citadel DCA]
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</gallery>
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==Resources and Citations==
 
==Resources and Citations==
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* Scott Lynn Paden, contribute information, June 2022.
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* Lynn Scott Paden, [http://www.citadeldca.com Citadel DCA] contributed information, June 2022.
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* Richard Pieper, 'The Maintenance, Repair and Replacement of Histoic Cast Stone' NPS, Technical Briefs #42 [https://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs/42-cast-stone.htm Link]
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* Richard Pieper, 'The Maintenance, Repair and Replacement of Historic Cast Stone' NPS, Technical Briefs #42 [https://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs/42-cast-stone.htm Link]
  
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materials and finishes at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC. This Neoclassical hall by Arthur Brown, and built in 1934 is primarily comprised of an acoustic stone known as Sphinxstone and produced by the Sphinx Acoustical Company on which I can find no historical background. This cast composite stone was molded into the various shapes and profiles. It is comprised of mollusk shells with white Portland and is particularly susceptible to impact, especially along arrises. In the hall there are large sections that have been sheared off and many edges that have significant degradation
 
  
 
[[Category:Materials database]]
 
[[Category:Materials database]]
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precast concrete building units
 
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Cast stone was just one name given to various concrete mixtures that employed molded shapes, decorative aggregates, and masonry pigments to simulate natural stone. The basic mixtures included water, sand, coarse aggregate, and cementing agents. Natural cements, portland cements, oxychloride cements, and sodium silicate based cements were all used as binding agents. The differences in the resulting products reflected the different stone aggregates, binding agents, methods of manufacture and curing, and systems of surface finishing that were used to produce them. Versatile in representing both intricately carved ornament and plain blocks of wall ashlar, cast stone could be tooled with a variety of finishes.
 

Latest revision as of 06:17, 6 July 2022

Columns in Mellon Auditorium built with Sphinxstone
Courtesy of Citadel DCA

Description

[Sphinx-Tone Acoustical Company] An acoustic Cast stone produced by the Sphinx-Tone Acoustical Company of Washington, D.C. In 1934, Sphinxstone was used in the construction of the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Federal Triangle, Washington D.C., designed by architect Arthur Brown Jr. During restoration of the building, visual inspection of the deteriorated sections of the concrete blocks indicated the stones contain mollusk shells and white Portland cement. Samples extracted for testing are undergoing analysis in preparation for cleaning and repairs (2022).

Sphinxstone label

Additional images

  • Closeup of Sphinxstone column
    Courtesy of Citadel DCA

  • Closeup of Sphinxstone column base
    Courtesy of Citadel DCA

  • Closeup of Sphinxstone column base
    Courtesy of Citadel DCA

Resources and Citations

  • Lynn Scott Paden, Citadel DCA contributed information, June 2022.
  • Richard Pieper, 'The Maintenance, Repair and Replacement of Historic Cast Stone' NPS, Technical Briefs #42 Link

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