Plastering

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.

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