Ceilings, and other Surfaces.
Year: 1886

page_text: Ceilings, and other Surfaces.
I, JAMES SUTHERLAND, of Poughkeepsie, New York, United States of America,
Painter and Decorator, 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:—
The said Invention relates to both the construction and ornamentation of
surfaces and consists so far as walls and ceilings are concerned, in producing the
same in a complete and highly ornamented form, in adjustable sections convenient
for handling, painted and finished according to the design of the artist or architect
before being placed in position, and by this method the most elaborate and exquisite
designs can be executed in the studio, thus avoiding all working over bead with
the brush and thereby securing more perfect execution.
For walls and ceilings, I take well seasoned thin boards of any ordinary wood
and cut them into narrow strips, tongue and groove the edges and glue them
together, about the size of the design required, or make them up of sizes con-
venient for handling, to be cut afterwards in the shape of the various members of
the design for ceilings or walls, and I then place across the back of these boards
strips of thin wood or iron and screw them fast to hold all the parts in position.
The face or inward side of these sections is rubbed smooth on a revolving sand
board and each section is then cut and fitted to its place in the design;
I then
paint the sections all over with lead and oil, and stretch canvass, cloth or lace over
this smooth face, and fasten the edges securely, then this covering is made to
adhere firmly to the boards with other coats of lead and oil and with a stipple
brush the fabric covering is tamped into all the concavities of surface and the
paint removed from the insterstices of the lace or fabric."'
Upon this section is painted the design required by the plan, whether the same
be simply the ornamentation of the lace or fabric and the bringing out of its figure
or, both that and the artists designs combined.
By the use of lace or other coarse figured fabric I obtain a corrugated surface,
and the figures shown in the lace or fabric are projected from the surface with
perfect grace of figure, and without the stiffness of natural or mechanical drawings
or stencilings or stampings, and yet I secure uniformity of figure and grace and
elegance of construction.
This lace or other fabric can be used on mouldings, posts, panels, stiles, ballusters,
vases and fronts of furniture, and all interior decoration, by being made to adhere
thereto by the use of lead and oil as above described.

page_text: It will be seen that the sections of ceilings or walls may be made of convenient
size and the cloth or lace painted to them ready for use before such sections are
cut and fitted to their positions.
The design required by the plan of the artist is placed upon and worked out on
the several sections in the studio, and when complete and dry the sections are
placed upon the walls and ceilings and secured in position by nails and screws
fastening them to the studding, furring or beams of the building.
The joints of the sections are covered with mouldings, rosettes or artificial beams
hereinafter described,
I decorate beam's formed of thin boards and cover them with canvass or lace or
coarser fabric according to the design before they are placed in position, and then
screw them up to the other parts forming the surface of the ceilings or walls.
These mouldings, rosettes and beams may be constructed of any material that
the fancy of the designer suggests, such as wood, leather, paper or metal.
My invention can be applied to walls and ceilings already plastered, without
removing the plastering, and can be applied to a new building dispensing with all
lath and plastering using thick paper when necessary for deafening purposes.
The various sections which comprise the ceiling or wall are adjustable and can
be taken down and repaired, repainted and ornamented with new designs at any
time, the work of decoration being all done in the studio of the artist.
By this construction I avoid all falling of mortar or paint or ceiling from any
cause and strengthen construction, the sectional ceiling and wall and decorative
beams acting as braces in all directions; and I enable the artist to decorate the
room as a unit in figure and design, without unnecessary repetition of figure.
I do not wish to have my invention confounded with any paper or cloth decorations
applied to plastered ceilings or walls by tacks or paste or other similar means of
adhesion, nor yet with boards placed on the ceiling or wall and canvass or cloth
stretched over them and painted to them and decorated afterwards.
In the decoration of my walls or ceilings I can stamp designs on the same in the
usual manner of stamping but I prefer by the use of lace in its various forms to
develop the necessary ornamentation as hereinbefore described and it will be seen
that such lace may be painted to the cloth covering the sections for the purpose of
producing a border over a part of the whole of the same.
My figures are thus shown in actual relief and may be gilded, silvered or painted
in any desired color, or varity of colors.
I can also prepare corrugated and relief surfaces by using asbestos felt paper
cloth or other flexible material instead of wood as a back to sustain the lace, and
when completely decorated and dry roll it up for the purpose of keeping and
transportation; this application of lace is peculiarly adapted to the ornamentation
of cornices, heads of columns and borders of panels.
In the drawings Fig. 1 is a view of a portion of the ceiling in position.
Fig. 2 is a cross section at the line ab Fig. 1 showing the decoration applied to
an old plastered ceiling.
Fig. 3 is a cross section at the line a b Fig. 1 as applied to a building without
plastered or wooden ceiling.
Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective view showing the manner of constructing the
sections and the placing the canvass or lace thereon.
A shows the ground work of the sections, B the canvass or lace, C strips covering
joints of sections, D shows rosettes or corner blocks and A¹ B₁ C¹ and D¹ show
different forms of decoration; e cross furring strips, m the old lath and plaster on
the ceiling and side walls, and n the beams of the ceiling.
Fig. 5 shows decorated beams, A. showing the ceiling, B. the large beams and C
the small beams.
Fig. 6 shows a section of the large beam, D³ shows the canvass or lace.
Fig. 7 shows the side walls and ceilings in perspective.
Figs. 8 and 9 show the application of lace to paper or felt to be used in
ornamentation by being decorated and used from the roll.

page_text: I claim also as an important element in my invention the strengthening of the
building by its use in lieu of lath and plastering or any of ordinary wooden
ceilings for the reasons that the sections are rendered impervious to air and water,
by being well seasoned in narrow strips glued together, cross furred on the back
and painted all over, and the sections thus rendered impervious to water will not
shrink, but form when in position and fastened, a brace in all directions very like
one board covering, being attached in various places, to the entire ceiling or wall.
It will thus be seen that not only my sections but their mouldings and cross
decorative beams, when placed in position, give strength and steadiness to the
building, and protect it from jarring by winds or storms or any external force or
pressure.
Having particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claims is:
First. An adjustable ceiling or wall composed of sections made of narrow painted
boards securely fastened together, and covered on its face with canvass, cloth or
lace secured to the boards and decorated as a member of the ceiling or wall, before
being placed in position as shown and described.
Second. A section or part of a ceiling or wall composed of boards fastened
together, painted and covered with canvass, repainted and decorated in lead and
oil so cut and ornamented as to form part of a wall or ceiling finished before being
placed in position as shown and described.
Third. In an adjustable ceiling or wall' composed of sections made of boards
joined firmly together, painted and shaped to form members thereof; the canvass
lace or cloth covering secured thereto and decorated before the sections are placed
in position as shown and described.
Fourth. An adjustable ceiling and wall composed of sections made of painted
boards covered on the face with canvass secured to the boards with lead and oil
and decorated according to any design in combination with mouldings, decorated
beams and rosettes of any material covering the joints all prepared and decorated
before being applied to the walls or ceilings as shown and described.
Fifth. The combination of lace or figured fabric with asbestos felt, paper or
other flexible material caused to adhere thereto with lead and oil for the purpose
of ornamentation decorated before being placed in position as shown and described
and for the purposes set forth.
Sixth. In the decoration of interior surfaces of dwellings and ornamental objects
therein and as an element thereof the combination of figured lace or cloth with
lead and oil as an adherant and the surface for the purpose of showing figures in
relief as shown and described and for the purpose set forth.
Seventh. The application of figured lace or any figured coarse material or fabric
to walls ceilings or other surfaces to produce corrugated and relief work and made
to adhere by lead and oil and decorated as shown and described.

page_text: The decision of the Comptroller-General, of the 23rd day of July 1892, allowed,
under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883, an Amendment of this
Specification.
Ceilings, and other Surfaces.
1, JAMES SUTHERLAND; of Poughkeepsie, New York, United States of America,
Painter and Decorator, 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 :-
The said Invention relates to both the construction and ornamentation of
surfaces and mainly consists, so far as walls and ceilings are concerned, in producing
the same in a complete and highly ornamented form, in adjustable sections convenient
for handling, painted and finished according to the design of the artist or architect
before being placed in position, and by this method the most elaborate and exquisite
designs can be executed in the studio, thus avoiding all working over head with"
the brush and thereby securing more perfect execution.
For walls and ceilings, I take well seasoned thin boards of any ordinary wood
and cut them into narrow. strips, tongue and groove the edges and glue them
together, about the size of, the design required, or make them up of sizes con-
venient for handling, to be cut afterwards in the shape of the various members, of
the design for ceilings or walls, and I then place across the back of these boards
strips of thin wood or iron and screw them fast to hold all the parts in position.
The face or inward side of these sections is rubbed smooth on a
revolving sand
board and each section is then cut and fitted to its place in the design; I then
paint the sections all over with load and oil, and stretch canvass, cloth or lace over
this smooth face, and fasten the edges. securely, then this covering is made to
adhere, firmly, to the boards with other coats of lead and oil and with a stipple
brush the fabrie lace covering is tamped into all the concavities of surface and the
paint removed from the insterstices of the lace or fabric.

page_text: Upon this section is painted the design required by the plan, whether the same
be simply the ornamentation of the lace or fabric and the bringing out of its figure
or, both that and the artists designs combined.
By the use of lace or other-course-figured fabric I obtain a corrugated surface,
and the figures shown in the lace or fabric are projected from the surface with
perfect grace of figure, and without the stiffness of natural or mechanical drawings
or stencilings or stampings, and yet I secure uniformity of figure and grace and
elegance of construction.
This lace or other fabric can be used on mouldings, posts, panels, stiles, ballusters,
vases and fronts of furniture, and all interior decoration, by being made to adhere
thereto by the use of lead and oil as above described.
It will be seen that the sections of ceilings or walls may be made of convenient
size and the eloth or lace painted to them ready for use before such sections are
cut and fitted to their positions.
The design required by the plan of the artist is placed upon and worked out on
the several sections in the studio, and when complete and dry the sections are
placed upon the walls and ceilings and secured in position by nails and screws
fastening them to the studding, furring or beams of the building.
The joints of the sections are covered with mouldings, rosettes or artificial beams
hereinafter described.
I decorate beams formed of thin boards and cover them with eanvass or lace or
coarser fubrie according to the design before they are placed in position, and then
screw them up to the other parts forming the surface of the ceilings or walls.
These mouldings, rosettes and beams may be constructed of any material that
the fancy of the designer suggests, such as wood, leather, paper or metal.
If desired the lace decoration may be secured to any existing wall or ceiling, by being
first secured thereto with size or a like adhesive and then painted and decorated in lead
and oil. The lace may be applied in single pieces large enough to cover a wall or
ceiling.
My invention can be applied to walls and ceilings already plastered, without
removing the plastering, and in the case of sections made of wood and covered with lace
they can be applied to a new building dispensing with all lath and plastering using
thick paper when necessary for deafening purposes.
The various sections which comprise the ceiling or wall are adjustable and can
be taken down and repaired, repainted and ornamented with new designs at any
time, the work of decoration being all done in the studio of the artist.
By the sectional construction I avoid all falling of mortar or paint or ceiling from
any cause and strengthen construction, the sectional ceiling and wall and decorative
beams acting as braces in all directions; and I enable the artist to decorate the
room as a unit in figure and design, without unnecessary, repetition of figure.
I do not wish to have my invention confounded with any the ordinary paper or
cloth decorations applied to plastered ceilings or walls by tacks or paste or other
similar means of adhesion, nor yet with boards placed on the ceiling or wall and
canvass or cloth stretched over them and painted to them and decorated afterwards.
In the decoration of my walls or ceilings I can stamp designs on the same in the
usual manner of stamping but I prefer by the use of lace in its various forms to
develop the necessary ornamentation as herein before described and it will be seen
that such lace may be painted to the cloth covering the sections for the purpose of
producing a border over a part of the whole of the same.
My figures are thus shown in actual relief and may be gilded, silvered or painted
in any desired color, or varity of colors.
I can also prepare corrugated and relief surfaces by using asbestos felt paper
cloth or other flexible material instead of wood as a back to sustain the lace, and
when completely decorated and dry roll it up for the purpose of keeping and
transportation; this application of lace is peculiarly adapted to the ornamentation
of cornices, heads of columns and borders of panels

page_text: In the drawings Fig. 1 is a view of a portion of the ceiling in position.
Fig. 2 is a cross section at the line ab Fig. 1 showing the decoration applied to
an old plastered ceiling.
)
Fig. 3 is a cross section at the line ab Fig. 1 as applied to a building without
plastered or wooden ceiling.
Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective view showing the manner of constructing the
sections and the placing the canvass or lace thereon.
A shows the ground work of the sections, B the canvass or lace, C strips covering
joints of sections, D shows rosettes or corner blocks and A' B C and D' show
different forms of decoration; e cross furring strips, m the old lath and plaster on
the ceiling and side walls, and n the beams of the ceiling.
•
Fig. 5 shows decorated beams, A showing the ceiling, B the large beams and C
the small beams.
Fig. 6 shows a section of the large beam, D2 shows the canvass or lace.
Fig. 7 shows the side walls and ceilings in perspective.
Figs. 8 and 9 show the application of lace to paper or felt to be used in
ornamentation by being decorated and used from the roll.
Lelaim also as An important element in my invention is the strengthening of the
building by its use in lieu of lath and plastering or any of the ordinary wooden ceilings
for the reasons that the sections are rendered impervious to air and water, by being
well seasoned in narrow strips glued together, cross furred on the back and painted
all over, and the sections thus rendered impervious to water will not shrink, but form
when in position and fastened, a brace in all directions very like one board covering,
being attached in various places, to the entire ceiling or wall.
It will thus be seen that not only my sections but their mouldings and cross
decorative beams, when placed in position, give strength and steadiness to the
building, and protect it from jarring by winds or storms or any external force or
pressure.
Having particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claims is:
First. An adjustable ceiling or wall composed of sections made of narrow painted
boards securely fastened together, and covered on its face with canvass, cloth or
lace secured to the boards and decorated as a member of the ceiling or wall, before
being placed in position as shown and described.
Second. A section or part of a ceiling or wall composed-of-boards-fastened
together, painted and covered with canvass, repainted and decorated in lead and
oil so-cut-and-ornamented as to form part of a wall or ceiling finished before being
placed in position as shown and described.
Third: 2. In an adjustable ceiling or wall composed of sections made of boards
joined firmly together, painted and shaped to form members thereof; the canvass
lace or cloth covering secured thereto and decorated before the sections are placed
in position as shown and described.
Fourth An-adjustable-ceiling-and-wall composed of sections made of painted
boards-covered on the face with canvass secured to the boards with lead and oil
and-decorated according to any design in combination with mouldings, decorated
beams-und-rosettes of any material covering the joints all prepared and decorated
before being applied to the walls or ceilings as shown and described.
Fifth The combination of lace or figured fabric with asbestos felt, paper-or
other flexible material caused to adhere thereto with lead and oil for the purpose
of ornamentation-decorated before-being placed in position as shown and described
und for the purposes set forth.
Sixth. 3. In the decoration of interior surfaces of dwellings and ornamental objects
therein and as an element thereof the combination of figured lace or cloth with
lead and oil as an adherant and the surface for the purpose of showing figures in
relief as shown and described and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: Seventh 4. The application of figured lace or any figured coarse material or fabrie
to walls ceilings or other surfaces to produce corrugated and relief work and made
to adhere by lead and oil and decorated as shown and described..
↓
Dated this 36th day of August 1886.