MOROCCAN CARVED PLASTER

Carved Plaster

This traditional form of ornamentation is an elegant complement to the intricate tilework and carved wood.

To produce this plaster, a layer of stucco is laid down. It varies from one to over 5 or more cm. thick. The material used vary but generally is a cement or lime stucco rather than just plaster. After preparation of the wall, an area large enough to be worked is laid and a stencil is used to mark the design.

The stencil gets pounced with a porous bag filled with cement or other coloured material, sometimes charcoal or coloured chalk is used. The craftman will own stencils that he can reuse. When the stucco has began hardening the craftman cuts out the design using a narrow chisel. It is a time consuming process.

The craftsman modifies and adapts the design to fit the wall/column or whatever he is ornamenting.

After cutting the design and letting it harden the background is sometimes coloured. This is done by pouncing darker cement over the design. I expect the stucco is dampened before this is done to allow the darker gray cement to stick. The pouncing is done using a porous cloth that allows a thin dusting of cement though.

The final step is painting the design. Only the outer face is painted leaving the inside carving cement coloured. Sometimes 2 colours are used on the outside face to emphasize the design.

Walls, columns, ceilings, archways and domes are likely candidates for carved stucco. Only the floor is not carved.