The deterioration of the Easter Island statues is mainly due to the action of water: chemical dissolution of the vitreous matrix and mechanical erosion by driving rain. The protection of the statues must therefore rely on a good hydrophobization treatment. In a first study, three water-soluble repellents were tested: two siloxanes dissolved in solvents, and one water-soluble silane system. The artificial ageing was based on wet/dry cycles, with the wet cycles providing a water spray to simulate driving rain. No significant differences in efficacy were found for the three products tested. These preliminary results need to be complemented by in situ tests to adequately evaluate their performance. The aim of applying a protective treatment is to avoid further deterioration and a future need for consolidation treatments.