Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-22
PLASTER MEDALL|ONS
Pretty Art Fad Revived With
Enthusiasm.
COTTAGE DECORATIONS
ALSO TAKES PLACE OF EXPEN-
sIvE MINIATURES.
Just the Thing for Milady's Boudoi1
or School Girls
Den.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
The old saying that the world moves In
cycles applies particularly to the return OF
fads and fashions which are revived about
every seven years.
This is shown by the fact that the fancy
for plaster PLAQUES and medallions, which
engaged the attention of the amateur q
few years ago, is being revived again with
more enthusiasm than ever. The rena1s-
sance of this charming fad is the outcome
of the recent craze for miniature painting.
a pleasant pastime which, proving some
what expensive is being abandoned by
many.
These placques and medallons are round,
oval or square, and are used as orna-
ments for the wall a piece of bric-a-brac
for miladys chiffonier, or to adorn cozy
corner. They can be made to look ex-
ceedingly artistic with very little labor
or expense.
The materials required are cents worth
of plaster OF paris, pretty print and an
oval dish. The first requisite is to have
the dish perfectly clean, as the slightest
bit of dust would ruin a good background
Next take the picture and cut away all
the margin, being careful to outline IL We'll;
then dip 1t in water and place face down
ward in the center of the dish. Mix the
plaster of paris to the consistency or cream
and pour it over the picture Let IT stano
for several hours until 1t is firmly set;
then. with a thin knife. gently loosen the
edges and the PLAGUE will slip out.
If the study used suggests THE Warrior
Bold" with lance and sword. the cages OF
the PLAGUE may be left perfectly plain IN
imitation of the casts of the mediaeval
period copies of which are to be found In
studios and art schools. Scrolls iatuce
work the irreguiarity of the deckle edSe az
present so popular. faint outlines in gut
that hint at frames. or dainty rows OF
beading all make pretty finishes. There IS
no limit to the manner OF hnlsh1ng. as Iiie
artist has full license to draw upon MS
imagination for effects.
An Imitation.
Rare old medallions can be initiated very
successfully by adding a drop of coloring
to the mixture. Delicate cameo tints. re-
minding one of the inside of sea shell.
are the result of a judicious use OF red,
while a little yellow gives the deep rich
cream of old ivory. With the latter for
background, a pretty face surmounted by
a Gainsborough hat with nodding plumes
makes an appropriate ornament for the
corner of the library bookcase, suggesting
the world of poetry, art and romance con-
tanned in the volumes on the shelves be-
meath.
The Gibson baby is a popular study for
this work. 1t can be procured at any art
store for a trifiing sum. From an artistic
standpoint this study is very effective for
PLAQUES, as it is almost impossible to dis
tinguish the picture from the background,
and the whole has the appearance of
dainty etching. Leon Morans "Pensive
Girls are good subjects, and make hand
some placques with dreamy distances laid
in lightly with water colorS.
One musical girl has mounted the bust
pictures of different composers on plaster
placuues thus adding to the musical at
mosphere and artistic appearance of her
studio, besides utilizing the pictures in an
excellent way to preserve the likenesses.
Medallion Photos.
Another pretty conceit is a medallion ar
ranged from ones own photograph. 1t Is
considered the correct thing among school
friends to send them to one another. for
they make dainty and acceptable remem-
brances. and add greatly to the harmonious
effect of a college girls den. These at
tractive trifles have the edges finished with
a wreath of red-tipped carnations, the
leaves and petals straying beyond the
border to the creamy background.
When half length photograph Is used
the gift cannot fail to be a genuine pleas
ure to the recipient. The frame should be
made of six long-stemmed American beauty
roses, the green stems with thorns being
twined around the edge, while the roses
themselves are allowed to stray artfstically
around the top and near the bottom Of
the PLAGUE.
Instead Of study, a square box or an
oval disc may be placed in the center of
the mold and the mixture poured around it
according to the foregoing directions.
When the PLAGUE Is firmly set these OBJ
stacles are removed, thus leaving an OPEN
ing in the middle for a favorite face It is
then ornamented with punches Of some
sweet blossom. after the manner of deco
rating the linen picture frames,
Though baby faces. heroic heads his
torical figures and photographs are excel
lent material for the making of these
pretty affairs, one Is not necessarily con-