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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Barlow Lineage

0VERVIEW

    Ornamental Plastering is an Ancient Art: dating back to the first century, when it was crudely perfected by Grecian Artisans. As we all know; the Romans made extensive use of these techniques to decorate the interior and exterior of their buildings, throughout the construction of the vast Roman Empire. The versatility and beauty of this art has been employed down through the centuries to decorate some of the worlds most impressive architecture. During the seventeenth, eighteenth, and well into the nineteenth centuries most of our Government Buildings, and all of our most famous theaters, used this beautiful art form in their construction.

    The, "Art of Sculpturing", and the, " Methods of Making a Mold", and the, "Tricks of Casting and Setting", along with the techniques of "Run in Place Molds"; have all been maintained within the Plastering Industry, since the earliest times. The old, "Guild System", of Master to Journeyman, and on to Apprentice, has kept this art in the strict confines of the Industry down through the years.

    In the early times; it was not difficult to expose an apprentice, or a journeyman, to all phases of Ornamental Plastering, because there was always a large volume of this work being done. Some single buildings taking as long as five years or more, to complete this particular part of the construction. As time went by; the purse-strings were tightened, the time-frame underwent a relentless squeeze, and more, and more, of this beautiful work was eliminated from the construction budget, until in the nineteenth century it was all but eliminated.

    Needless to say;  it was impossible for the old masters to pass on their art. But luckily there were a few Journeymen, with enough knowledge and skill, to maintain the existing Ornamental work, and, on occasion, be engaged to do a complete application. On these occasions a younger journeyman, and sometimes an apprentice, had an opportunity to acquire this ancient knowledge. And of course; Ornamental Plaster fell prey to the specializing of skills. Consequently there were those who understood the separate phases, but very few who had a working knowledge of all the phases. This fractured the art even more. Today: The number of persons who could competently handle all the phases of, "Ornamental Plastering", and therefore be considered a, " Master", are few and far between: And sadly they too must pass on.