The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-08-23
PLASTER PLAQUES
AND MEDALLIONS
AGAIN IN FASHION

The old saying that the world moves
turn of fads and fashions which are
revived about every seven years.
This is shown by the fact that the
fancy for plaster placques and medal
lions, which engaged the attention Of
the amateur a few years ago. is being
revived again with more enthusiasm
than ever. The renaissance of this
charming fad is the outcome Of the re-
cent craze for miniature painting, a
pleasant pastime which, proving some
what expensive. is being abandoned by
many.
These placques and medallions are
round. oval or square, and are used as
ornaments for the wall, a piece of
bric-a-brac for milady's chiffonier, or
to adorn a cosy corner. They can be
made to look exceedingly artistic with
very little labor or expense.
The material required are five cents
worth of plaster of-paris, a 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 out
line it well; then dip 1t in water and
place downward in the center of the
dish. Mix the plaster of-paris to the
consistency of cream, and pour 1t over
the picture. Let it stand for several
hours until 1t is firmly set; then, with
l..
and the PLAGUE will slip out.
If the study used suggests THE
Warrior Bold" with lance and sword.
the edges of the PLAGUE may be left
perfectly plain in imitation of the
casts of the medieval period, copies of
which are to be found in studios and
art schools. Scrolls, lattice work, the
irregularity of the deckle edge at pres
ent so popular, faint outlines in gilt
that hint at frames, or dainty rows of
beading, all make pretty finishes.
There is no limit to the manner of
finishes, as the artist has full license
to draw upon his imagination for eff
fects.
Rare old medallions can be initiated
very successfully by adding a drop
of coloring to the mixture. Delicate
cameo tints, reminding one of the in
side of sea shell, are the result of a
judicious use of red, while a little yell
low gives the deep rich cream of old
ivory. With the latter for a back
ground, a pretty face surmounted by
a Gainsborough hat with nodding
plumes makes an appropriate orna-
ment for the corner of the library
bookcase, suggesting the world OF
poetry art and romance contained in
the volumes on the shelves beneath.
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 distinguish the
picture from the background, and the
whole has the appearance Of a dainty
etching Leon Morans "Pensive
Girls" are good subjects, and make
handsome PLAQUES with dreamy dis
tances laid in lightly with water
colors.
One musical girl has mounted the
bust pictures of different composers
on plaster placques thus adding to the
pearance of her studio, besides utiliz-
ing the pictures i'm an excellent way
TO preserve the likenesses.
Another pretty conceit is a medal
lion arranged from ones own photo
graph. II is considered the correct
thing among school friends to send
them to one another, for they make
dainty and acceptable remembrances,
and add greatly to the harmonious eff
feet Of a college girls den. These at
tractive trifes have the edges finished
with broad bands Of gilt, over which
is painted a. wreath of red-tipped car
nations, the leaves and petals straying
beyond the border TO the creamy
background.
When a half length photograph Is
used. the gift cannot fail to be a gem
uine pleasure 10 the recipient. The
frame should be made Of six long
stemmed American beauty roses. the