An Improved Manufacture of Stucco Flowers, Leaves or Plants for Stucco Ceilings, Frames and Decorations of all kinds, from Preserved Natural Flowers and Leaves.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 27th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 8th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Manufacture of Stucco Flowers, Leaves or Plants for
Stucco Ceilings, Frames and Decorations of all kinds, from
Preserved Natural Flowers and Leaves.
I, Mrs. THERESE REINHERZ of Karlsplatz No. 4 Munich, Germany do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Stucco decorations made in imitation of flowers, leaves and other parts of plants,
for ceilings and frames, have hitherto been produced from plaster of Paris, either
by casting, or moulded by hand, such work in the case of ceilings having been
generally executed by Italian artists.
The present invention has for its object to employ in place of such cast or hand
made stucco flowers, fresh natural flowers, which are subjected to a petrifying
process, after they have undergone a suitable preparatory treatment for this
purpose.
To prepare the natural flowers, they are provided with a backing on one side
generally on that side which is not intended to be seen, care being taken to retain
the natural position of the leaves.
This object is effected by means of a backing of paper, canvas, leather &c. upou
which and underneath which the stiffening composition is then applied, whilst
the position of the leaves is fixed by suitably arranging metal wire, wood
chips &c.
For the stiffening composition may be suitably employed, chalk, burnt and
unburnt gypsum, and other mineral salts which are rendered plastic by an addition
of paraffine, wax, white of egg, yolk of egg, gum, gelatine &c., and by a farther
addition of dextrine, glycerine &c.
The flowers, when thus prepared and allowed to dry through the side which is
not coated with the stiffening composition, are then dipped into gypsum or are
coated therewith.
As the visible sides of the leaves or petals which according to their position may
either be the upper side or the morphological underside, are maintained in their
natural sharply defined form and structure, the flowers &c. so preserved surpass
in beauty and natural appearance those of present manufacture, even when these
are produced artistically in the best style.
These prepared flowers are at least as perfect as the stucco flowers which were
produced in naturalistic forms and were so particularly admired during the reign
of Louis XVI.
If both sides of the fresh flowers were to be coated with the preparatory
composition, the exclusion of air would cause a rapid decomposition of the sap
and consequent decay of the flowers. But in some cases the side where there is
no backing may also be coated later on, that is to say after the prepared flowers
have become thoroughly dried.
Dated this 24th day of July 1896
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Manufacture of Stucco Flowers, Leaves or Plants for
Stucco Ceilings, Frames and Decorations of all kinds, from
Preserved Natural Flowers and Leaves.
I, Mrs. THERESE REINHERZ, of Karlsplatz No. 4 Munich, Germany, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Stucco decorations made in imitation of flowers, leaves and other parts of
plants, for ceilings and frames, have hitherto been produced from plaster of Paris,
either by casting, or moulding by haud, such work in the case of ceilings having
been generally executed by Italian artists.
The present invention has for its object to employ in place of such cast or hand
made stucco flowers, fresh natural flowers, which are subjected to a petrifying
process, after they have undergone a suitable preparatory treatment for this
purpose.
This preparatory treatment is as follows:-A natural flower &c. has the back
surface of each petal or leaf treated with the stiffening material to be presently
described, while the front surfaces remain intact. By this means the juices of the
flower can entirely evaporate or dry up without causing the flower to shrivel and
without the juices decomposing or becoming putrid, as would occur if both sides of
the fresh petals were to be coated.
As stiffening medium for the above process is employed paraffin. It is heated
to melting point and is then applied; by means of a soft brush to the back of the
petal or leaf, which is thus at once rendered stiff.
With flowers that are only to be used for stucco purposes there may be employed
in place of paraffin a stucco material consisting of a liquid paste formed of a
mixture of glue, with gypsum and chalk, which is also applied in a heated condition ;
on cooling it becomes stiff.
In thus coating the petals they may also receive a backing of textile fabric,
paper or leather, and they may also be stiffened with wire.
The flowers thus treated and dried are then dipped into a shellac solution, and
afterwards in a liquid paste of gypsumn and chalk mixed with glue, or this may be
applied with a brush.
The said liquid paste is preferably of the following composition
Glue
Water
-
60 grammes
1800 cube c.m.
Burnt gypsum
Chalk
2160 grammes
420 "
This mixture may however be considerably varied, and may have other other
materials, such as sugar of lead, acetate of lead, eggs, oil, gum, glycerine,
colophony, mixed with it.
The stucco flowers thus produced may either be used as they are or they may
be painted or gilt, according to the decorative purposes to which they are to be
used, such as for ceilings, frames, candelabra, and the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is

page_text: the petals or leaves of natural flowers &c. on their back surfaces with a soft
material that subsequently stiffens, and combining with such coating textile fabric,
paper or leather, and wire, substantially as described.
2. In the manufacture of stucco flowers and the like, treating natural
flowers &c. after having been stiffened in the manner referred to in the first claim
and then dried, by first dipping them into a solution of shellac and then into a thin
paste formed of a mixture of glue with gypsum and chalk, with or without the
addition of sugar of lead, acetate of lead, glycerine or eggs, or such paste may be
applied thereto with a brush, substantially as described.
3. The use of stucco flowers, leaves or plauts prepared from natural flowers &c.
in the manner herein set forth, and either left plain, painted or gilt, for ceilings,
frames, candelabra, and other purposes of decoration.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.