| Long before the turn of the century and as early as | | | | or ceilings, they must be bone dry. This can take |
| the ancient Egyptians, the use of plaster in ornate | | | | anywhere from a few hours to a few days |
| designs was a common decorating solution to plain | | | | depending on the density of the design. |
| walls and ceilings. | | | | The application is easy! |
| At the turn of the century, in the United States and | | | | Standard "joint compound" is available in every home |
| abroad, Cast Plaster Ornamentation and Raised | | | | and hardware store across the nation. Simply spread |
| Plaster Stenciling were used to add architectural | | | | a thin layer of joint compound (about 1/4" thick) over |
| beauty to stately homes and government buildings. | | | | the back of the cast plaster piece, hold it to the |
| You can still see it in homes such as the "Biltmore" | | | | ceiling or wall for 30 seconds to 1 minute (depending |
| mansions, fine hotels and various downtown | | | | on how large the piece is) and it becomes permanent. |
| structures all across America and in Europe and | | | | This is the precise way the Victorian's applied their |
| France. | | | | wonderful ceiling and wall designs, except that they |
| The Vatican is well known for its grand use of cast | | | | applied actual plaster to the piece as its adhesive. |
| plaster ornamentation, with elements dating back to | | | | Heavier pieces are applied the same way but with |
| its construction still gracing walls, pillars and ceilings. | | | | small pilot holes drilled and finishing nails gently tapped |
| Cast Plaster Ornamentals faded from their once | | | | in to place to hold the piece firm as the joint |
| "stylish" popularity around the 1920's and 30's except | | | | compound dries. |
| in more high end homes and mansions. It is my | | | | Masters of plaster design create dramatic effects |
| feeling that this was partly due to the economical | | | | using cast plaster designs on ceilings and walls of the |
| downturn of the war years and home builders | | | | very wealthy. You can see examples of this beautiful |
| switching to more cost effective building styles. Since | | | | treatment all over the internet. Simply search |
| then, this form of decorating has rarely been seen in | | | | "Victorian Plaster Ceiling". |
| the common decorating market. That is, until now. | | | | Many of these ceiling and wall designs cost literally |
| As I watch manufacturers and high end home | | | | thousands of dollars when created by a pro; but you |
| builders of today re-incorporate the look of carved | | | | don't need to hire a master to create this beauty in |
| moldings, ornate ceilings and ornamentation on | | | | your home and it doesn't have to cost you an arm, a |
| cabinetry, furniture and even tile, it's obvious that | | | | leg and your first born! |
| there is a resurgence of interest in high profile | | | | Plaster of Paris is very inexpensive. From just one 25 |
| ornamentals in the home decor industry. | | | | lb. bag (about the cost of a simple lunch at |
| With Raised Plaster stenciling now being featured in | | | | "McDonald's"), you can yield as many as 50 small |
| magazines articles, home decorating shows on | | | | pieces which is more than enough to create a 5 foot |
| television and at numerous home decorating fairs | | | | medallion around your light fixture or a stunning |
| across the nation, cast plaster is quickly following suit. | | | | repeated border of molded plaster. |
| Due to this re-invention of 3-D decorating; even | | | | To find plaster molds, simply search the term on the |
| wallpaper manufacturers have begun to bring back | | | | internet and appropriate sites will come up. Any mold |
| the old "Embossed" wallpaper to get in on the | | | | can be used to create designs. Molds made for |
| decorating band wagon. | | | | candy, candles, soaps or more detailed architectural |
| What is "Cast Plaster"? That's simple: | | | | molds can be combined in various ways to achieve a |
| Cast plaster is simply pouring common Plaster of Paris | | | | myriad of possibilities. |
| mixed with water in to a mold that has been sprayed | | | | This past fall, I created a 5 x 3 foot, very ornate, |
| or brushed with any release agent (such as cooking | | | | cast plaster frame around my dining room chandelier. |
| oil, mineral oil or mold release) and allowed to harden. | | | | It took me a few hours to cast the plaster pieces |
| Once the piece is hard, you simply turn the mold | | | | and only 1 hour to put the design in to place. The |
| over, pop out the plaster piece and it has taken on | | | | look is expensive, professional and adds value to my |
| the shape and design of the mold exactly. | | | | home. |
| The application to walls and ceilings is simple. | | | | You too can achieve these looks with little effort, |
| Firstly, before plaster pieces can be applied to walls | | | | little expense and no experience what so ever. |