Venetian plaster was developed by stuccoists working in
Bavaria, Germany inventing a new type of decorative internal plasterwork,
called scagliola. This was composed of gypsum plaster, animal glue and
pigments, and was used to imitate colored marbles and pietre dure ornament.
Sand or marble dust and lime, were sometimes added to these forerunners of
Venetian plaster.
Soon after Italian artists, combining it with modelled
stucco decoration, introduced the sgraffito technique, also known as graffito
or scratchwork, back to Germany further refining the durabillity of these now
so called Venetian plasters.
These Venetian plaster techniques were practiced for 100s of
years by European artists adding layers of contrasting lime plaster were
applied and a design scratched through the upper layer to reveal the color
beneath.
The 17th century saw the introduction of different types of
internal plasterwork. Stucco marble was an artificial marble made using lime
(sometimes with gypsum), pigments, water and glue to the Venetian plaster.
Stucco lustro was another a form of imitation marble (sometimes called stucco
lucido) where a thin layer of lime or gypsum plaster is applied over a scored
support of lime, with pigments scattered on surface of the wet plaster.
In the last decade, an American invented term Venetian
Plaster has been assigned to a wide range of techniques; many having little or
nothing to do with one the other besides superficial surface similarities.
Other terms include Stucco Veneziano, Italian or Venetian stucco, Marmorino,
Scagliola, Sgraffitto, Marezzo, American scagliola, Spatolato. Tradenames
include Tadelakt, Kurra and other commercial stucco brands.
The actual Venetian plaster process is a finishing technique
using thin layers of plaster applied with a spatula or trowel. The plaster is
then burnished to create a smooth surface with an illusion of depth and texture
in the Venetian plaster.
In America, Venetian plaster describes a variety of
different techniques and materials used to create the polished stucco finish.
The English word for plaster is not related to the material which makes normal
plaster and actually comes from old French word "plaister" which
means gypsum.
Plaster is not used in most Venetian plaster formulas except
the Scagliola finish, the basic Plaster mix is gypsum, sand and lime or
sometimes just the gypsum and sand.
Whereas Stucco is a traditional mix of lime and sand and
more modern stucco is the mix of lime, cement and additionally sand.
If you need plaster artisans, trained in Europe in the
Venetian plaster and Italian plaster arts, we can bring to your home, business, or
commercial project an unmatched level of beauty, elegance, and sophistication. Whether
it is the polished brilliance of smooth Venetian plaster, cool sparkling
Marmorino, or heavily textured Venetian plaster with an old world or old wall
feel.
Give us a call. 917-415-6215.
Give us a call. 917-415-6215.
