Background

The word scagliola has a double meaning: it indicates both the material -plaster- and the technique of imitating marble.

The imitation of marble dates back to very ancient times and many different materials and techniques have been used, depending on the cultural area in which they developed, and have changed over time, but all sharing the same purpose: the imitation of marble, which was very expensive at the time.
Later it became obvious that the scagliola technique could not simply be reduced to a trivial imitation of the natural material, but it was worthy of being considered an art in all respects. Further confirmation of the intrinsic value of this technique is that today many scagliola works are kept in some of the most important museums in the world such as the Uffizi, the Getty Museum and the Hermitage.

Some hypotheses have been formulated about the origin of this technique, but it is known that the birth of a creative process is never the result of a single event, but rather of a slow journey.
In Italy, Moonstone first appears in the Carpi area, hence the name of scagliola carpigiana. Master Guido Fassi (1584-1649) worked here and he is considered its inventor, although there is evidence of this technique even before the 16th century. Also, in Italy, the scagliola technique develops in the Intelvi Valley, near the border with Switzerland, with different characteristics and process. From Northern Italy, the technique then spread to Switzerland and Germany under the name of Stuckmarmor, but this theory is not shared by all art historians. Some believe that the technique developed at the same time in Italy and in the German area. In Germany, amazing examples of scagliola decorations can be seen in Munich, in the Reiche Kapelle. From continental Europe the technique then spread to England.

Appreciated and widely used during the Baroque and Rococo periods, in the 20th century the scagliola technique suffered a decline due to the new materials for commercial use which made it possible to imitate marble at a lower cost. Unskilled artisans replaced the masters and the reputation of scagliola diminished. In the 1970s the technique was again considered, but essentially in the context of restoration. Interest in the technique has recently reawakened both in the decorative and artistic fields, a reinterpretation of ancient workmanship in a modern and contemporary key.

The technique

Scagliola is a complex process that requires knowledge, sensitivity, time and patience, as it involves long grouting and smoothing phases.

The materials are all of natural origin::

• - plaster
• - animal glue or strong glue: the addition of glue slows down the hardening reaction of the plaster, allowing the mixture to be worked for the necessary time and gives the finished product greater hardness and resistance
• - pigments: earths and oxides to colour plaster and make veins
• - stones for smoothing and polishing; today some stones are replaced by water abrasive papers
• - raw linseed oil and natural wax

During the processing, plaster, water, pigments and strong glue are mixed together. Monochromatic or marbled surfaces can be created. The marble veining is already created during the mixing phase, so it is not a surface decoration, but is visible throughout the thickness of the layer.

After the mixture has hardened, the surface is smoothed and grouted in alternating phases. The sanding is done rigorously by hand with increasingly finer grain size abrasive material. Eight smoothing phases follow one another. Each sanding stage is followed by a grouting stage. At the end of the last sanding, the surface is smooth and shiny. Lastly the waxing protects the surface. During the smoothing phase it is possible to make inlays on the surface.

To obtain excellent quality it is essential to respect the processing times of the material and to carry out the work by hand.
Despite technological progress, in fact, it is not possible to accelerate drying or perform sanding with mechanical means, which would not be able to perceive any anomalies on the surface, which only the sensitivity of the hand of the craftsman is able to warn to avoid ruining the work.

Applicazione

Scagliola is a completely ecological technique that makes it possible to create a wide range of products, from design objects to sculptures and architectural decorations or inserts of different kinds and interior coverings, with an infinite possibility of customizing colours, textures and shapes; it should not be considered as a replacement for marble, but rather as a material with its own unique characteristics.

Direct application on stable supports and on the wall can be done after preparing the substrate.
The plaster of the support can also be cement. But before applying the scagliola it is necessary to prepare a mesh and a layer of about 1.5 cm made of plaster and coarse sand, as gripping agents.

Depending on the project, scagliola can be applied on site or prepared in the workshop and placed later.

The thickness of the scagliola coat can vary from about 5 mm to 1 cm.

It is not suitable for outdoors and surfaces in contact with water.

It is a tough material that can even be walked on, but has limited resistance to impact and scraping.