About the Book
The first edition of this important book was originally published in 1897, but it is still viewed by most traditional plasterers as the plastering 'bible'. Now available in this facsimile edition this impressive volume presents a comprehensive coverage of traditional plasterwork, including everything from plain lime plastering through to hand modelling and cast plasterwork. Written by William Millar, who had practical first hand experience of using these methods, the book provides a fascinating and unique record of a craftsman's intimate knowledge of these traditional materials and techniques. This, the only detailed work currently available on this subject contains: a vital record of craft skills being practised 100 years ago; fully illustrated examples of decorative ceilings and other features; and in depth instructions for making casts and moulds.
Table of Contents:
Introduction - Plastering Plain and Decorative, a Glimpse of History by G.T. Robinson: Prehistoric, Egypt, the Greeks, the Romans - Oriental Development, The Middle Ages, The Renaissance, Sixteenth Century, Decorative Growth in France and England - Decline in the Hanoverian Influence - Hopes for a Revival. Historical Plastering in England, Scotland and Ireland: Primitive - Mediaeval to the Eighteenth Century- Notes on Old Materials, Plasterers' Wages, Hours, Victuals and Drink. Materials: Manufacture of Plaster of Paris - Limes - Mortar - Hair - Sand - Mastic - Cements, Portland Cement, Hydraulic Cements and Plasters - Lathing. Lime Plastering: First-Coating and Rendering - Floating Screeding and Flanking - Setting - Stucco - Method of Working - Fixing and Mitring - Repairing Old Plaster and Gauged Work. Decorative Ceilings: Panelled and Floating Panelled Ceilings - Modern Panelled Ceilings - Portland Cement Ceilings - Fibrous Plaster Panelled Ceilings - Gothic Ceilings - Groined Ceilings - Classic Panels. Running Diminished and Circular Mouldings: Diminished Columns - Plain and Fluted Columns - Rim and Collar Method - Diminished Mouldings - Cupolas - Trammels - Templates - Plasterers' Oval - Coved Ceilings - Circular Mouldings. Exterior Plastering: Cement Facades - Fining - Mouldings - Coloured Cement Facades - Pediments, Porticoes, Niches, Pedestals, Cornices, Columns, Arches, Balustrades, Windows - Sgraffitto - Fresco- Impressed Plaster Work. Modelling: Principles of Modelling - The Modellers' Art, Handwork, Tools, - Modelling Clay, Plastilina, Pate Plastique - Ceiling and Wall Decorations in Modelled Plaster - Modelling in Cement, Wax - Modelling in Tow - Architectural Model Making. Moulding and Casting: Plasterers' Shop - Squeezing, Casting and Moulding Wax, Waste Wax - Squeezing, Piece Moulding Clay - Plaster Waste, Plaster Moulds - Gauging Plaster and Casting - Casting White Cement, Moulding - Pressed Cement Work. Model and Running Mould Making: Truss, Drawing and Model Making - Hinged Moulds - Diminished Models - Composites, Capitals, Centre Flowers, Mitres - Slippered, Radius, Hanging and Muffled Moulds- Notes on Running Moulds. Gelatine Moulding: Manufacture and Uses in Moulding - Jelly Moulds - Cases - Moulding Clay, Truss - Open and Straight Moulds, Glue Moulds, Gelatine Casts and Indiarubber Moulds - Fibrous Plaster and Concrete - Interchangeable Moulds - Combined Gelatine and Plaster Piece Moulds. Fibrous Plaster Work: Historical - Materials - Casting, Centre Flowers, Plain and Enriched Cornices, Plain and Enriched Fibrous Plaster, - Fireproof Fibrous Plaster- Casting in Plaster and Tow -Slabs - Gesso - Sgraffitto - Damp-Proof Fibrous Plaster Slabs. Reverse Moulding: Uses and Terms - Setting Out - Reverse Casting, Cornices, Panel Mouldings, Rib Mouldings - Capitals, Diminished Plain and Fluted Columns - Overdoors. v Compositions: Papier Mache, Manufacture and Uses for Decoration - Carton-Pierre - Gesso - Patent Plaster Decorations - Daekoria - Smith's Patent Metal. Scagliola: Artificial Marbles - Scagliola, Manufacture, Mixing - Colours and Quantities - Polishing and Fixing - Marezzo, Making and Polishing - Granite Finish - Granite Plastering. Foreign Plaster Work: Saracenic - Plaster and Glass Windows - Persian, Moorish, Spanish, Indian, Chinese, Italian, French, German, Austrian, Belgium and Russian Plaster Work. Terra Cotta: Modelling - Model Making - Moulding - Pressing - Drying - Firing - Fixing. Concrete: Ancient - Fine - Aggregates - Sands and Cements - Paving - Pavements - Making Concrete Slabs - Concrete Mosaic - Staircases - Concrete and Fibrous Plaster - Floors - Ceilings - Roofs - Casting and Modelling in Concrete. Rudimentary Geometry and Architecture: Mouldings - The Orders of Architecture - The Roman Orders - The Ionic Pedestal - Impost and Architrave Mouldings - To Set Out Balustrades. Tools and Appliances: Plasterers' Tools - Appliances and Plant - Labourers' Tools - Scaffolding
About the Author :
Mr Millar was a Scottish plasterer active during the second half of the 19th century, the latter part of which was spent in and around London. He descended from a large family of plasterers, and was able to draw upon first hand knowledge and experience stretching back for generations.
Review :
For anyone interested in or who needs to know about plastering... Structural Survey Who would I recommend this book to? Well just about everybody professional, intelligent client or tradesman. Any young professional working in historic buildings should be made to read it from cover to cover... SPAB If you want to explore and acquaint yourself with the historical detail of this important area, then this is the book for you. Context It must be said that this book is simply marvellous SALVO
