On January 28, 2024, Guardian Clarity™ glass once again protected the "Mona Lisa" from would-be vandals, who attempted to throw canned soup at the famous piece of art. The Louvre has confirmed that no damage was done to the painting.
Every day, thousands of tourists flock to see Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" inside the Louvre Museum in Paris to catch a glimpse or take a selfie with one of the world's most famous paintings. On Sunday (May 30, 2022), one of those people shocked visitors and guards alike when he reportedly smeared cream from a pastry all over the glass that shields the painting.
Guardian Clarity™ glass protects the "Mona Lisa" and had done its job. Other than needing a quick wipe down, the glass served as the unseen hero protecting this and many other priceless world treasures and works of art around the globe.
Guardian Clarity™ glass delivers a viewing experience unlike anything else by drastically reducing reflections while increasing light transmission. People and institutions, like the Louvre, choose this anti-reflective glass because it enables closer, more intimate interaction with the items on display, while providing security and protection when laminated.
The glass can reduce reflections from around 8% to just 0.7% and can increase light transmission from 90% to 98%. It can also protect these treasures from 100% of pastry-smearing incidents.
Guardian Clarity™ glass, a product of Koch company Guardian Industries, is used for a wide variety of applications, from museum and art gallery displays to zoo enclosures. It can be laminated for security and tempered, or heat strengthened.
Land of the Lions at the ZSL London Zoo, United Kingdom. Photo credit: Paul Ives, courtesy of Romag
Display at the Utrecht Centraal Museum in Utrecht, Netherlands. Photo credit: Centraal Museum Utrecht/Ernst Moritz 2015
Allosaurus skeleton at the Marqueyssac Gardens, France. Photo credit: Stanislas Ledoux
With Guardian Clarity™ glass, you can be sure it will provide a clear, secure view of whatever you're trying to display even if someone smears pastry on it.
