Highlight on Craftsmanship: Casci Plaster

A close-up of a plaster moulding.

Wandering through any building or home, one might notice the decorations lining the crown of a wall, the coffers inserted into a ceiling, the capital atop a pillar, or the intricate panel covering an air vent. Playing a game with my daughter, I once asked her what material she thought these adornments were made of. She immediately replied that they must be made of wood. What other material allowed such detailing yet produced such a substantial, lasting effect? To her surprise and that of many others, the adornments in many buildings were not made of wood but rather plaster carefully molded into beautiful forms by craftsmen and women practicing an art first invented by the Egyptians and later perfected during the Renaissance. While the powdery ingredients of plaster may seem temporary at best, in actuality plaster mouldings can last hundreds of years with proper care and attention.

A collection of roundels made by Casci

As mentioned in previous blog posts, I always try and integrate the artistry of craftsmen in my designs as much as possible. In Dallas, we are lucky enough to have Casci Oranmental Plaster, a family-run plaster company which specializes in classic, traditional designs. Casci’s craftsmen not only create casts from new moulds but also the company has an amazing library of decades-old moulds. Some moulds were even originally taken in Italy by Giovanni Primo Casci, an Italian immigrant and the original founder of the company.

Close up of a rubber mould.

While the casts may look quite complex in design, the basic steps of moulding and casting is quite simple. A craftsmen either creates a new mould, constructs a mould from an already existing cast, or reuses an older mould. Wet plaster is then poured into the mould and allowed to sit until hardened. Many times, however, these complex plaster ornamentations require the casts to be separately created and then fused together in a jigsaw like fashion. 

A rubber mould

The resulting cast

While this process may come across as fairly straightforward, the creation, casting, and installation of plaster works is an exacting art. Craftsmen, like those at Casci, are integral to not only creating beautiful plaster works but also maintaining a centuries old tradition. All the residences I design incorporate this beautiful craft and benefit from the inclusion of the artform. Next time you are out and about take a gander at the ceiling or walls. The beautiful art form you are enjoying might very well be a lovely plaster cast.

Just a few of the moulds which form part of the Casci library