Notting Hill Living

Internal Mouldings

Cornices and dados

In a Palladian house, the cornice and dado were very prominent decorative items. They became even more decorative under the influence of Adam and neo-Classicism. Regency houses relied more on furniture and wallpaper. But if mouldings were becoming less obtrusive, there was a greater variety of styles. After George was appointed Prince Regent in 1811, his insignia of three feathers became a regular motif in house decoration.

Medallions

Robert Adam had introduced the practice of inserting rectangular panels or circular medallions into wall spaces. They would then contain a plaster and decorated motif.

Plaster

Internal plaster was usually made of lime or gypsum (commonly called Plaster of Paris) mixed with animal hair to give it substance. It was then applied in three or more coats on the wall laths which were made of cheap wood. Pre-moulded ornaments were made in workshops and then stuck onto the third plaster coat while it was wet. Sometimes the decoration was gilded.

Imitations

Sometimes ornaments were not plaster at all, but made of papier mache. An alternative was scaliogla made of coloured plaster and marble chips, which could be shaped and polished to look like marble columns.