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Scagliola is plaster application that can often be mistaken for a stone because of its colorful veined look.  The material can be found as wall coverings, accessories, and sculptures or columns. 

Scagliola

  • Keep away from high moisture because it will quickly absorb and return to its natural state when contacted with water.

  • Cracks can be filled in by colored plaster or paint but must be done correctly to maintain the proper finish.

  • When the material starts to separate from the surface, adhesive can carefully be injected between the surfaces to reattach.

  • Produced by mixing together the materials into a paste then applied to molds, sculptures, and wall planes.

  • The veining is created by pulling a strand of pigmented silk through the plaster mix.

  • Often looks like marble, but feels warmer to the touch and sounds hollow.

  • Made of quickset gypsum mixed with glue and water with added pigments to incorporate color.

    • occasionally will contain other chemicals depending on the production​

  • Not a structural material, and will crack with added pressure.

  • Will crack superficially over time

  • Like any other gypsum product, scagliola has a negative impact because of the particles released into the air 

  • During productions, the carbon emissions are very high

04: Scagliola applied to columns

A very common application of scagliola throughout history is large decorative columns.

  • Created by mixing together the gypsum paste and pouring it into a large mold OR by applying the paste directly to the plane of a vertically built column

  • Scagliola cannot be used as structural support, so these columns are solely for decoration

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ASTM Standards:

  • C61/C61M - Standard Specification for Gypsum Keene's Cement

  • C471M - Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Gypsum and Gypsum Products (Metric)

  • C472 - Test Methods for Physical Testing of Gypsum, Gypsum Plasters and Gypsum Concrete

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Organizations:

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Application

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Resources

Images:​

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Information:

Page by Ruth Baker

05: Various colors of scagliola

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