It can be a little daunting sometimes as we look for new products
and designer touches, no more so than when we do not understand the
terminology used. Venetian plaster is one such product where obviously
there are many Italian words attributed to the finishes. Some to
describe the same thing, and then some which have been completely made
up or have been slightly changed in translation over the years in their
spelling. So my objective here is to try and clear up some meaning to
the most widely used terms.
Stucco Veneziano - the Italian translation of Venetian plaster, These are wall finishes made from marble powders and lime putty, and used for a wide number of decorative effects.
Marmorino - the literal term in Italian is "little marble", is a broad term for Venetian plaster finishes, though for many it best describe the smooth polished plasters.
Stucco - again a broad term which is also used by other plastering trades to call exterior renders. For me I think it is a good representation for the coarser textured plasters.
Polished Plaster - is the term more widely used in the UK but gaining popularity world wide, also known in the Italian translation, Stucco Lustro. I think it can only fairly represents the smooth and highly polished Marmorino.
Grassello- the finest and most highly polished plasters. This is the classic Venetian plaster which to many stands out the most due to the glass like texture and sheen which a variation of marbling seen with in its decorative surface.
Carrara - is the marble used in traditional Venetian plaster is white Carrara and this is also sometime used for a mid sheen Marmorino.
Tadelakt - the renown wall finish which hails from the public baths and steam rooms (Hammans and Riads) of Marrekesh in Morocco. It is so very similar to a marmorino, just a little thicker in appearance and often sealed with olive oil soaps to give a slightly more earthy appearance.
Spatulato - or similar is often termed for a classic Grassello finish but where the workmanship is more visible. Although strictly speaking Spatulato Veneziano was a finish originally a different mixture of chalk, oils, animal glues and natural pigments, and is not so much used these days.
Intonachino - or similar are plasters made from slaked lime and a coarser chipping of marble, used to make Venetian stuccoes.
Pitted Velato - made from Intonachino the smooth surface has a pitted pattern to it. Velato is Italian for veiled and refers to the finish being colour washed to increase the decorative effects.
Travertino - again made with Intonachino the pattern is like that of Travertine stone. A sooth lightly honed surface which may have completely random l areas of coarse pitting or a more uniformly dragged appearance.
Scagliola - mainly used for making columns or furnishings, a cheaper and lighter alternative to solid marble. Gypsum and alabaster plasters are combined with oils and colour pigments to create veining and a marble replica within a mold.
Sgrafitti - wall decoration technique in which a design and colouring is etched and applied to a finish before it has dried.
Faux finishes is not a term I like as it has the negative false attributed to it. Widely used across the America, it has best described the paint effects and modern acrylic finishes which often used in place of traditional Italian plaster finishes as they are more easily applied by the novice and cheaper to buy.
There are many more spelling variations and trade names for Venetian plaster, perhaps this echoes the great potential we can find here. There many different styles and finishing effects that may be made by the artisan providing an endless choice of fine bespoke wall finishes.
Stucco Veneziano - the Italian translation of Venetian plaster, These are wall finishes made from marble powders and lime putty, and used for a wide number of decorative effects.
Marmorino - the literal term in Italian is "little marble", is a broad term for Venetian plaster finishes, though for many it best describe the smooth polished plasters.
Stucco - again a broad term which is also used by other plastering trades to call exterior renders. For me I think it is a good representation for the coarser textured plasters.
Polished Plaster - is the term more widely used in the UK but gaining popularity world wide, also known in the Italian translation, Stucco Lustro. I think it can only fairly represents the smooth and highly polished Marmorino.
Grassello- the finest and most highly polished plasters. This is the classic Venetian plaster which to many stands out the most due to the glass like texture and sheen which a variation of marbling seen with in its decorative surface.
Carrara - is the marble used in traditional Venetian plaster is white Carrara and this is also sometime used for a mid sheen Marmorino.
Tadelakt - the renown wall finish which hails from the public baths and steam rooms (Hammans and Riads) of Marrekesh in Morocco. It is so very similar to a marmorino, just a little thicker in appearance and often sealed with olive oil soaps to give a slightly more earthy appearance.
Spatulato - or similar is often termed for a classic Grassello finish but where the workmanship is more visible. Although strictly speaking Spatulato Veneziano was a finish originally a different mixture of chalk, oils, animal glues and natural pigments, and is not so much used these days.
Intonachino - or similar are plasters made from slaked lime and a coarser chipping of marble, used to make Venetian stuccoes.
Pitted Velato - made from Intonachino the smooth surface has a pitted pattern to it. Velato is Italian for veiled and refers to the finish being colour washed to increase the decorative effects.
Travertino - again made with Intonachino the pattern is like that of Travertine stone. A sooth lightly honed surface which may have completely random l areas of coarse pitting or a more uniformly dragged appearance.
Scagliola - mainly used for making columns or furnishings, a cheaper and lighter alternative to solid marble. Gypsum and alabaster plasters are combined with oils and colour pigments to create veining and a marble replica within a mold.
Sgrafitti - wall decoration technique in which a design and colouring is etched and applied to a finish before it has dried.
Faux finishes is not a term I like as it has the negative false attributed to it. Widely used across the America, it has best described the paint effects and modern acrylic finishes which often used in place of traditional Italian plaster finishes as they are more easily applied by the novice and cheaper to buy.
There are many more spelling variations and trade names for Venetian plaster, perhaps this echoes the great potential we can find here. There many different styles and finishing effects that may be made by the artisan providing an endless choice of fine bespoke wall finishes.
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