Page 46 - The Tale of Two Fountains

THE TALE OF TWO FOUNTAINS
The same efforts were shown in making the lamp for the top of the column, as the original was in a poor state of repair. The team made a wooden mock up to establish its design and proportions with the rest of the structure. This was a challenging task which was achieved successfully by making a lamp, approximately 6 feet in diameter, in hand blown glass with bronzed framing. Unlike the previous gas light, the lamp has an electricity supply with LED bulbs following the guidelines of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation.
All the restoration work of the fountain was carried out at the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum (which was previously known as the Victoria and Albert Museum), the oldest museum of Mumbai. Its construc- tion was planned by Dr Lad and the foundation was laid in 1862 and the works were completed in 1872. The building with its imposing front elevation is built in ‘Palladian style’12. It is also interesting to note that this is considered to be the oldest V & A museum as the present V & A in London dates back to 1899.
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