faux finishing

History

Faux stone painting was widely used in Pompeii, but it really took off in Europe during the Renaissance with two schools of faux painting developing. The Italian school was loose and artistic, the French school was formal and realistic. It typically took an apprentice ten years or more to fully master the art. The sophistication of the techniques are such that visitors are frequently unable to distinguish between false and real marble in many churches, palaces and public buildings in Europe. The techniques were perfected by the 17th century and have been used in all styles of construction well into the 20th century, including Baroque, palladian, neoclassical and historical revival styles as well as Art Nouveau and Art Deco buildings. Craftsmen who are able to replicate this work are still available, as evidenced, for example, by the extensive restorations of faux marble surfaces in important Eastern Europe buildings since 1990.

With a lengthy apprenticeship in house painting, signwriting, graining, and marbling, Kershaw won awards at the International Exhibit of 1851 and in the Paris exhibition of 1855. So skillful and realistic was his work that it was often confused with real wood and marble. His fame brought him to the attention of Prince Albert, who hired Kershaw to decorate the Emperor's Room at Buckingham Palace. His work is still occasionally displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Other techniques for producing faux marble include Scagliola, a costly process which involves the use of specially pigmented plasters, and terrazzo, for flooring, in which marble chips are imbedded in cement, then ground and polished to expose the marble aggregate.

Modern professional faux finishers are very skilled and will use a variety of techniques to reproduce the colors, veining and luster of real marble or other building materials. However, many decorators will merely suggest the appearance of marble rather than accurately imitate a particular stone.