Decorative plasterwork
What is it?It's the stucco cornices, friezes and decorative panels that you see on walls and ceilings. Most of the historic decorative plasterwork in Ireland dates from the 18th and 19th centuries. Styles varied from geometric patterns in the early 18th century to more flamboyant rococo styles featuring figures, trophies, fruit and flowers; these were followed by symmetrical designs in low relief and the more robust Greek-revival style. Georgian interiors in Dublin have some of the finest examples of stucco work in Europe.
How is it restored?First you have to work out which materials were used originally – the papier mache that was used in some cases, for example, would disintegrate if you used plasterwork-restoration techniques. The layers of paint must also be expertly analysed: overpainting, which obscures the detail of the plasterwork, is one of the most common problems. "It's essential that solvent-based paint removers are used," says Andrew Smith, an expert who restores and creates original decorative plasterwork (046-9437649, stucco2010@hotmail.com).
Once the layers are removed you’ll be able to spot any defects. Then you trace the plasterwork to pinpoint missing elements, before modelling replacements by hand and adding them to the original plasterwork.
“I model a core coat which is a bit coarser, and leave it to dry for a few days or a week,” says Smith. “Then I finish it off with a smooth coat of lime and plaster. Two coats of distemper paint are added at the end.” If the damaged area is a repeated geometrical pattern, you’ll be able to use a mould instead.
How long does it take?Removing paint is often the most time-consuming element of the work. The time you'll need to restore the plasterwork depends entirely on the extent of the damage. Don't forget to factor in the time the new plaster will need to dry before you add the final coat. Creating a new decorative plasterwork ceiling can take up to six months, according to Smith, who has added contemporary decorative-plasterwork ceilings to extensions to period houses.
Where do I sign up?Ireland has no courses in conserving or restoring decorative plasterwork, unfortunately. The Irish Georgian Society, which strongly recommends that you seek expert advice before repairing or restoring plasterwork, has a register of craftspeople (igs.ie).
Smith will show photographs of restored plasterwork and talk about restoration dos and don’ts at the society’s free Traditional Building & Conservation Skills in Action exhibition, at Farmleigh, in Phoenix Park, Dublin, on August 13th and 14th. See igs.ie or call 01-6767053.
