I cannot find a source of information on this
old and venerable material.
Look; I know it was a closely guarded secret a few hundred years ago,
but come on let the cat out of the bag!
A good book would work.
Or a link…
Heck anybody have a recipe and some know how?
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Replies
The latest and greatest is now called 'Marlite', get a bag from a swimmimg pool supplier.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
I only glanced through there web sight but, it is
a wall treatment no? I want to cast a vanity.
check out the wikipedia entry, good info there
I did. Your right, that has been the best source so far. What I need is a nitty gritty recipe with basic how to
instructions. I've spent a good deal of time looking for web sights to no avail. This guy is very impressive-http://www.torokstudio.com/
check out profaux.com, they have scagliola products.
Rich
I think some of there products are in the right ball park. I need to cast it in a rather large form. I think the basic materials
are rather simple once known and understood (could be seriously wrong
about that). So, it's the information I'm after more then fine art products. I'm
my experience if it's in an "Art" store dirt will cast $500.00 a pound!
With no guarantees of quality. I'll buy pre-made if that's the route but it doesn't seem like their
products are even intended for casting. Thanks,
chuck
check out truefresco.com, it has forums on fresco and scagliola technique.
Rich
Thanks for the help.
I have truefresco bookmarked. There is a whole genre of casting the stuff. Seams to
involve a slightly different plaster and no hide glue.
Scagliola is a technique for surface finishing, not for casting, as far as I know. Know what you mean about the art stores
Scagliola is an ancient technique of casting pattern into plaster. It is not just a surface applied art.
The European method involves unstranding silk strands, dipping them into a wet pigment, laying them into a form, and then doing a series of pours or 'lapping' wet plaster over the different colored strands of silk. The ends of the silk are then drawn through the wet plaster and the mold or lapped in plaster is allowed to totally dry.
It is then ground down to a uniform shape and thickness using finer grind as it proceeds until it gets to a highly polished state. Often there will be a surface finish applied for protection.
The reason for using unstranded silk is because it is the closest to the patterns of color veins found in marble and other quarried rock. Often, after the 'scag' is dried, set & ground, artists will come in and apply tromp-l'oeil to the work as an embellishment.
I worked closely with a scag master on a couple of projects some years back. We were doing ornamental plaster restorations together and he took me through the process. Frank Speck was his name, from the UK and as loony and fun as they come. We didn't spend long together but I'll never forget him. He was a consummate artist-artisan.
That was one heck of a project!
How long were you one it? Maybe you could get me started. Mind fielding some questions? My project- We were thinking of a concrete vanity top, but
the scag. options are much more intriguing so if possible why not?
So, the mix. Are we talking plaster of Paris? or is some other
plaster more suitable? Somewhere I read "Keen" plaster was used at times. What are the necessary ingredients? Plaster,marble dust,hide glue...? We, liked some of the simpler looks we've come across. Kind of a porous sand or lime stone look. What colorant materials are generally used? Any, proportions to get me started in the mix ? Thanks for any and all help!
I have a special hole that needs filling set aside for my less
then desirable experiments! LOL
Sorry, I am/was an ornamental & flat plasterer, I don't do scag. Frank just ran me through the process is all and showed me his work.
I'll tell you what I do know though.
Keene plaster is a much finer & harder plaster and is avaialable, but I'm sure it's a mail order thing. You would have to Google & check where. It's more common in the UK where it was developed.If you're doing a counter top, I would go with the concrete. Use white concrete with fine white sand and then do your coloring. When you color mix concrete to one solid color, use universal tints and get the proportions down right. You have to mix a certain amount into the water that you use to mix the concrete with. It's important that you let it completely dry in order to find the true color. Make a sample board and keep close records of the ratio of mixes. Trowel on a 6"x6" sample onto a piece of sheetrock or plywood maybe 1/4" thick, and let it dry completely. That's your base color. Use a traditional 3-1 mix.Scag plaster was usually a type of casting plaster we called 'white art' which was finer and stronger and yes, it was often mixed with glues for more strength and also marble dust for a smooth finish. I would not use plaster as a vanity top though no matter how strong. Plaster will break down over time with heavier exposure to water. Concrete is what you want.
If you like the sandstone finish, get a darker sand and mixed with type s gray crete and color it that brownstone color. after it's dry, do a light wash with muriatic acid solution and scrub with a nylon floor brush and wash with water.
It's been years since I've done this stuff, but I do remember that you have to play with it to get what you want.You also might want to check out Venetian plaster, encaustica, and marmorino. These are wall finishes that are similar to one another and give depth patterns to the work.
Thanks, I'm running this idea down because of
some Scag. sinks and vanities I found for sale.
I agree the idea of plaster and water is strange. I have to run, but I'll look into your suggestions. Thanks
Chuck
....and what do ya know, here he is! I worked with both Lisa and Frank.
Haven't thought about them in years and it's great to see they've moved on.
http://historicrestoredecor.com/about_us.htm
Check out the home page. That's the kind of work I was involved with for some years with Evergreene Paint Studios out of NYC. http://www.evergreene.com/servconservation.html
We did the NJ Statehouse Dome Restoration together and there is some fantastic examples of scagliola there in the senate chambers.
http://www.state.nj.us/events/dome/gallery.html I'm at the bottom of the gallery page prepping to set a sample of work for the conservators. They got my name wrong though....called me Barry.
Google is great.
Jer, didn't Evergreen have their shop on west 42nd St. ? 20 plus years ago I worked for a GC in NYC and would pass their shop every day, often wondered what type of work they do.
Beautiful work on the statehouse, too bad we've had a long string of bums running things around here.
Rich
I don't know where they first had their shops. When I was there their main shop was on....oh God....29th on the West side? (I'm guessing). Their plaster casting shop (where I worked), was on west 31st near the river.