American artisans brought out the personality of plaster again in the early 20th century, creating beautiful forms and decorative effects with names like Italian Plaster, Roman Tile Finish, and Spanish Palm Finish for houses built in revival styles. Vesuvius, I was impressed with how ancient artisans manipulated simple lime-and-sand mixtures to create vibrant textures and colors-fitting backdrops for their fine breads and rich cheeses. After studying an exhibition of Roman frescoes rescued from the volcanic ash of Mt. However, once you see plasterwork of the past, you can appreciate what’s possible with the free play of this timeless material.
Real plaster walls are so rare in modern construction its easy to assume they can never be more than flat, neutral surfaces. Plaster has a way of pointing you in the right direction, as long as you are open to making adjustments according to its needs. The key to textured finishes is experimentation.
