Page:The museum, (Jackson, Marget Talbot, 1917).djvu/189

Rh on wheels, which can be raised by means of a crank to any desired height up to seven or eight feet. The crank works very easily, as do the wheels, so that it is quite possible to put your marble upon the platform, drag it to the spot where it is to be exhibited, raise the platform to the height of the pedestal and transfer the object to it. But one of the greatest advantages of this machine is that you can test the height you are going to want for your base. Put the statue on the platform, take it to the place where it is to be exhibited, have an attendant work the crank, raising and lowering the platform till you are sure of the exact spot where it looks the best, take the measurement of that height and then order your pedestal. You will be certain to have no regrets.

Bases for statues may be built of wood, and should be provided with strong casters, so that it will be possible to move them in cleaning without too great difficulty. Marble bases are excessively expensive and rarely an improvement. Should square marble shafts be used for the mounting of busts, however, it is well to remember that the grain of the marble on two sides will show long stripes of color and on the other two sides, tiny flecks. If you desire to make your busts look as though they were higher up, place the