The Museum of City Sculpture believes that the lions were damaged by those who tried to climb on their backs. The sculptures are made of copper sheets only 3 millimeters thick, have no frame and are not designed for such a load.
The Palace Wharf was built in the 1820s according to the project of architect Carlo Rossi. In 1832 the figures of lions were installed - exact copies of the “Medici lions” from the Piazza Signoria in Florence. The sculptures were cast at the Alexander Iron Foundry.
It is strange, of course, to carry out restoration every two years...