After months of work and years of planning, Meadow Brook Hall has completed a massive restoration project to return the iconic Pegasus Fountain to its original glory.
The Colt Pegasus has been a remarkable presence at Meadow Brook Hall since 1948, presiding over countless weddings and elegant soirees. A symbol of imagination and grace, the winged bronze horse has been a centerpiece of the estate’s gardens for 77 years.
The idea for the sculpture was born after Matilda Dodge Wilson and her husband, Alfred Wilson, spotted a smaller version at the Detroit Flower Show. Inspired, the Wilsons commissioned a larger rendition, modeled after one of their own prized hackney ponies.
The sculpture was created in 1947 by Avard Fairbanks, an artist and sculpture professor tied to the Dodge legacy. Fairbanks was commissioned by Walter P. Chrysler to design the ram logo that is still used today for the Dodge brand of automobiles. The octagonal-shaped pool surrounding the sculpture is lined with turquoise-colored Pewabic tile and star-shaped insets, designed by Italian-born Detroit artist Corrado Parducci—who also created the intricate carved plaster ceiling in Meadow Brook’s Christopher Wren Dining Room.
Over the decades, the sculpture endured the wear and tear of Michigan’s unpredictable weather. Oxidation and exposure led to deterioration of the bronze finish, along with damage to the intricate fountain tiles and underlying systems.
The $250,000 restoration project addressed these challenges through extensive plumbing and electrical work, careful repair and relining of the fountain basin, and the installation of 10,500 handcrafted Pewabic tiles, some embedded with constellation stars.
After months of meticulous work, the revitalized fountain now shines once more—its waters flowing smoothly and the Colt Pegasus beautifully renewed. The restoration not only preserves a piece of Meadow Brook’s artistic legacy but also honors the vision of the Wilsons, ensuring that future generations can experience the wonder and inspiration of the Colt Pegasus for years to come.
