Preservation in the news: Palace to replace broken glass panel
Photo courtesy of Star-Advertiser Palace taps California artist again to replicate glass panel By Rob Shikina, Honolulu Star Advertiser March 2, 2014 A California man will soon begin the painstaking process of replicating an embossed glass panel that was shattered during an act of vandalism at Iolani Palace last month. Patrick Mackle, who has reproduced three panes of glass for the palace already, will craft the piece at his shop in Monrovia, Calif. The artwork, which is in a style similar to rococo, a florid style that originated in Europe, has fine brushstrokes that reveal shadows and shapes, he said. The job will take about three months. Palace officials said replacing the glass will cost between $14,000 and $15,000, including shipping. A private donor may cover the expense. The glass was broken on Feb. 8 when two people forced their way into the palace. Police arrested a 30-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman on suspicion of criminal property damage, but released them pending investigation. Palace officials said it appears a kick broke the glass and opened the door. The glass fractured, but a sheet of tint kept the shards from falling out of the frame. Officials removed the glass and covered the hole with a piece of wood. Mackle, 63, said he will use the original process employed to create the ornamentation. It is the only way to re-create the original design, which includes a water bird, foliage and a frog. He said the technique is becoming obsolete in today's use of computerized images with sharp and clean designs. "You can see the artist's hand strokes and the brush strokes," he said by phone from his shop. "This is almost like a painting [...]