8-year-old boy dies after ‘guardian’ statue falls on him at luxury Arizona hotel

ny post ^ | 12/04/2024 | David Propper

[BenLurkin]

The sculpture that fell over was one of the 19 “solemn sprite” statues that were replicas of pieces initially created by architect Frank Lloyd Wright and artist Alfonso Iannelli in 1914. The replicas were given to the Arizona Biltmore in 1980s, according to the hotel’s website.

The mythological “guardian” statues are meant to “watch over the land on which the Biltmore rests,” the website says.

[Muhammy]

I worked on the Biltmore for 1 year with a stud, drywall, stucco contractor.

Superintendent.

The cost of those statues negated a mortar joint to the plinth base.

No mortar joint, falls easy with a climbers help.

Camera are everywhere!!!!

[A strike]

you actually watched a video about the dangers of trimming palm trees ?

[FoxInSocks]

The replicas were given to the Arizona Biltmore in 1980s

So the statues have been standing there for only 40-some years?

[jocon307]

“They’ll settle”

Of course, and quickly too. But things like this, that are out in the open and accessible need to be made safe from things like children climbing on them. Because little children, and not so little children, are going to do things like that.

So, either something was wrong with this particular statue or something is very wrong with all of them.

[Rappini]

It appears that the Statue wasn’t secured to the base, I think they figured the weight would prevent it falling over. I was surprised how far the Statue was from the base I think the kid was fooling with it.