Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-10
OeSPlSED PLASTER CASTS
They Can be Made Artistic as q Means
Of Home Decoration.
The Soft. Pleasing Tinis of Old Ivory
or heilow-The Effect of An
tiques Secured.

ilues secured.
NO one who has not seen them knows the
isaiy beautiful objects into which common
"hl'e PLASTER casts may be transformed
anu that, 100. with only trifiing outlay Of
time and expense In the streets of most
ia CITIES IN the east, more than the west
and in New York city most of all. pictpr-
esqIe Italians hawk these commodities
ABOUT at quite low prices They NAV he
found, too. in many of the small art stores
sometimes in beautiful designs. and perhaps
costing little more. But the hawkers are
the originals In the business and have tbe
largest assortment. One NAV mass vo,,
often en- the street, his nut-brovn skin
oherng strange contrast to the travful of
chalky white statuetteS and busts: but be-
yohd vague Impression of this contrast
you let him pass unnoticed. Pause next
tifhe' IL you have an eye to the beautiful
and thought for economy, and examine
his wares.
Here. first of all Is a pair of little brack
cts. the size Of which would lust support an
old miniature. From beneath th. shelf Of
each peers one of Raphaers immortal cher
ubs. These are real gems in spite of their
whiteness. Some one has very truly said
that these casts are to sculpture what pho
Biography Is to painting. Certainly. if YOU
VIII take the time TO examine into the deli
cacy and artistic quality of his wares. Won
VIII De able to adj materially 10 the fin de
steele tone of your home. Some years ago
the home Of the plaster cast was The studio
ana art gallery, perhaps sometimes the Climb
room now they lend relief to a tinted wall
hanS conspicuously over a mantel peep
from behind portieres and decorate many an
a Ia lass
Changed Into Antiques.
Many persons care for them not at all
In their plaster of paris lack of tint; for
THIS, however there is abundant remedy.
In several ways they can be coIored or
tinged to resemble antiques, either old
ivory, terra Gotta or bronze. The method
is quite simple. and easily followed. Pecu-
harly artistic are the old yellow panels
and squares in has relief, also group pieces
In ivory or terra Gotta. For old ivory. a
rather yellow tint, stir a third of a quart
OF good white wax into ore quart of boil
ing iinseed OIL let il get quite cold Then
apply with a paint brush. If you want
an age-stained appearance. add little
burnt lumber. The cast must then dry
thoroughly: after which rub il well with a
chamois skin, and the presence of the wax
In the features will soon be seen by their
appearance in all the softness and richness
OF polished ivory, the darker yellow re-
naming in the depths and crevlces Thus
quite an 'old world" look is obtained If
the polish is not desired, merely use the
coatings OF linseed oil. keep the cast from
the light and dust, and the yellow shade
viii gradually appear. But i'm the has re-
uefs or any case where the intention is
10 initiate the antique. the polished effect
Is best the bright surface and dark
shadows faithfully reproducing the old
pieces. bronze cast can easily be &C.
complished by oiling first with linseed con-
fNna sakga l..
it when dry with black varnish Last. and
the finishing touch, dip the brush in oil
and then lightly into bronze powder make
the application gently, and you have a
nish previously used must be first dried
The terra Gotta hue comes easily: merely oil
the casts. then use several coats of terra
Gotta paint. Use mixture of white paint
for a light color.
The heads of musicians can sometimes
be obtained in medailions; these are ex-
Quisite in music room: what more suit
able for library than medallion heads of
classic writer's? The long bas relief of
Donatello's cherubs is a fad of the mo-
ment, and is little beauty when colored
and hung. A fine has relief hangs above a
low doorway with good artistic effect
Small medallions of ideal heads serve MANY
a dainty purpose when colored and polished
and make most attractive little gifts Both
these and the panel-shaped bas reliefs can
be put to no end of artistic uses.
Yet another and very effective treatment
of the Sas relief. when the design is de-
tached figures, flowers, garlands, dancing
girls or children, is TO give the figures a
dull yellow tint, entirely unpublished, and
then paint the background a deep soft terra
Gotta. These initiate closely the high-priced
articles of Copenhagen manufacture and are
exceedingly dainty wall ornaments. In Tine
imported pieces the figures are but slightly
raised ana OF almost cameo-like delicacy
TO the artistic and creative genius who de-
lights In possibilities, the scope offered by
the coiored casts is almost limitle,s For
instance, special feature of some late
white wood articles is the omission i'm Ger
tain places of panel work This lark 81 is
intended shall be iilled by carved y,on1 ar
the pleasure of the artist But what coulI
excel Tor this, in point of beauty. the col
ored cast? wi
very clever woman recently dasigaeAa n
small bookcase with the aid of these Ia
the deep cherry panels at top and bottom
were set ten or twelve medallion casts ~
classic writers. and at both sides marrow,
panel bas reiiets, all richly colored and moi.
lsned- me panel strips cost a Quarter or
half a dollar apiece. VI
4 beautiful sideboard. of like inya,io,,s =,
sign, is Of satin maple. A narrow nanel 80
game is at each side. while across The TO-,
are set small square casts of fruit. all ~
old ivory finish. The game panels are var,,
low rellef. In fact rightly chosen deSipns
can be charmingly used IL. all individ,,aI
caplnet work. The next time YOU meet rba
dark-eyed image vendor do not thouybtIass|
ly pass him by.