My last Blog, “The Future of Classical Style”,  discusses the Artistry and Craftsmanship embodied in the Classical Style.  Artistry and Craftsmanship never go out of style.  It is  a major reason for its timeless appeal and  it has a bright future in 2021.

This month’s issue of Veranda focuses on the American Revival – Artistry and Craftsmanship for the 21st Century.  The Power of Plaster article is enough to cause a boom in the use of contemporary plaster itself with this incredibly beautiful plaster masterpiece in the Palazzo Contarini Polignac, overlooking the Grand Canal in Venice.

Another masterpiece from the Calhoun Estate in Atlanta, Georgia

More inspiring Plaster Work

Russboroush House – is a stately house situated near the Blessington Lakes in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is reputed to be the longest house in Ireland.

Kirtlington Park, Oxfordshire –  Located close to Oxford and Blenheim Palace

Kirtlington Park is a Palladian country mansion set in stunning gardens and Capability Brown designed parkland.

The house was built for Sir James Dashwood, 2nd Baronet (1715–79), after he had married an heiress, Elizabeth Spencer.

Veranda shares companies that have endured the test of time and offer today’s masterpieces; such as JPWeaver, White River, Decorators Supply and Hyde-Park Mouldings.  “The classicism of today is generally a less-embellished interpretation of earlier style periods.”  Adrian Taylor, Hyde-Park Mouldings.  “I think today’s designers are embracing the human proportions and interplay of clever geometries that are so inherent to traditional design.  And when done well, good plasterwork doesn’t come across as classical or modern–just timeless and elegant.”  Adrian Taylor

Patrick Webb

Patrick Webb, is a heritage and ornamental plasterer, educator and an advocate for the specification of natural, historically utilized plasters: clay, lime, gypsum, hydraulic lime in contemporary architectural specification.

He was raised by a father in an Arts & Crafts tradition. Patrick Sr. learned the “decorative” arts of painting, plastering and wall covering as a young man in England.  Along  with all of life’s important lessons which could be learned from the mediums of tradition and craft. He was most drawn to plastering, considering it the richest of the three trades for artistic expression.

Palladio Mouldings – Custom Mouldings – Our primary service offers custom designed plaster mouldings for your business, commercial unit, or private residence. In developing custom pieces, we employ skilled design technicians, pattern makers, and sculptors. For more information on quotes, please contact our sales representatives.

Types of Plaster by Patrick Webb

Plaster of Paris – is synonymous with moulding, casting and pottery plaster and used as the principal binder of neat, gauging and veneer plasters

β- Gypsum Plaster – gypsum rock calcined to calcium sulphate hemi-hydrate under normal atmospheric conditions

Neat Plaster – a gypsum plaster ready to be used as a render with the addition of sand and water

Gauging Plaster – a gypsum plaster intended to be used with lime putty for finish work

Gypsum Cement – an α- gypsum plaster or a plaster blend of α- and β- gypsums

α- gypsum – a slurry of pulverised gypsum rock calcined in autoclave conditions to achieve uniform crystal formation

Calcination – the baking of gypsum rock to liberate the bound water of crystallisation

Hydration – the reintegration through setting of water into gypsum’s crystalline structure

γ- anhydrite – the almost but not quite completely anhydrous, water-free form of gypsum plaster

Beaux-Arts Classic Products

Plaster Wall Panel

Plaster Urn – Faux stone finish

“Breathtaking Vaulted Ceiling”

The extraordinary beauty one feels when looking at this space is the breathtaking vaulted ceiling.   Francois Catroux was hired by the Crown Princess Marie Chantal of Greece to update her parents 1913 town house near the Frick.  The original home design was the work of legendary Italian decorator, Renzo Mongiardino.   His multifaceted career, focused primarily on the creation of residential and theatre environments with a team of irreplaceable craftsmen and assistants who were able to transform his aesthetic dreams into reality.  I assume that the ceiling is his creation.

Catroux selected the custom sofa in the style of Jean Royère, Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne side table, and Donald Baechler artwork decorating the corner.

This vaulted ceiling design is a great inspiration to recreate a version of it today.

Decorators Supply Composition Ornamentation that can be used for a similar design.

They do not have images for these online, but they are in their catalogue – Swag #312F, Vertical Drop #817F, #796F, #934F, #5191F, #5211F, 5212F, #5475F, #5449F, Urn #1398F

#803F

#2012F

#5466F

Basket and Urn #5758

Emire Winged Angel on Pedestal #6341

Winged Angel Pilaster #7570 – Designed and ready to install

Vertical Design

Swag #7387