Conserving a Super Bowl Legacy

Few objects in American sports carry the symbolic weight of the Vince Lombardi Trophy, awarded to the winning team of the Super Bowl each year. The Conservation Center recently had the honor of treating two commemorative, player-owned versions of the Lombardi Trophy belonging to Chicago Bears legend Gary Fencik. Both objects date to the Bears’ historic 1985 Super Bowl victory and were produced to commemorate that championship season. 

Before treatment.

Before treatment.

Before treatment.

Detail of sterling silver football on Vince Lombardi Trophy

Before treatment.

Watch a video of our senior furniture conservator Stephen Ryan treating the trophies below, and then scroll down to learn more.

A central figure on that championship team, Fencik served as the Bears’ safety for the from 1976 to 1987, serving as the captain of the famed 1985 defense and widely respected for his leadership, preparation, and football intelligence. He later became a Pro Football Hall of Famer and, like several of his teammates, secured a unique place in popular culture through his appearance in The Super Bowl Shuffle, the now-iconic music video that captured the confidence and personality of the 1985 Bears. 

Since its introduction in 1967, the Vince Lombardi Trophy has been crafted entirely by hand, drawing on distinct silversmithing techniques that reflect an extraordinary level of artisanal skill. Formed from sterling silver sheets imported from Italy and heated to approximately 537 degrees Celsius, each trophy is shaped and finished with remarkable precision. All engraving is completed by hand and records the Super Bowl number, the competing teams, the date, location, and final score. The process concludes with a meticulous final polish that gives the trophy its iconic brilliance -- an object designed not only to celebrate victory, but to stand the test of time. Players are given smaller-scale, custom commemorative versions of the trophy as enduring reminders of one of the defining moments of their careers.

When these commemorative trophies arrived at The Center, the surfaces exhibited a moderate accumulation of particulate matter, along with areas of oxidation across the sterling silver. The original lacquered finishes had degraded, diminishing surface clarity and reflectivity, and the felt applied to the undersides of the bases was lifting and partially detached. 

Both trophies were photographed before and after treatment for in-house documentation. The degraded lacquer coatings were carefully removed using appropriate conservation methods and materials, and oxidation was reduced through controlled, non-abrasive techniques suitable for sterling silver. The surfaces were then re-lacquered to conservation standards to restore visual cohesion and provide long-term protection. The lifting felt was secured to the undersides of the bases, and a final protective wax coating was applied to safeguard the surfaces moving forward. 

Click through the gallery below to watch treatment progress.

As another Super Bowl approaches -- this time featuring the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots -- these trophies serve as tangible reminders of the legacy, craftsmanship, and history behind the game’s highest honor. Through conservation, moments from Super Bowls past are preserved in the present, bridging eras of competition while safeguarding the indominable material culture of American sports. 

After treatment.




Sources:

Thea Andrus

CONTACT US
312.944.5401