Papier mâché cornice

Rather than a plaster cornice, why not try papier mâché?

In the mid-19th century, papier mâché was used as an alternative to plaster for architectural mouldings like cornices and ceiling roses. It was first imported into Australia in the 1830s and was soon installed into houses like the Scott brothers’ Glendon near Singleton, TS Mort’s Greenoaks (now Bishopscourt) at Darling Point and Edward Cox’s Fernhill at Mulgoa.

Papier mâché had long been made into smaller decorative items like snuff boxes, trays and picture frames, which were usually lacquered and painted. But once manufacturing techniques improved, papier mâché proved itself ideal for architectural ornament as it was light, strong, easily fitted and could be moulded into a myriad of designs. Once installed, it did not need to dry (like plaster) before being painted, gilded or grained.

Papier mâché was made by pulping or layering paper with various binders and additives, then pressing it into moulds, waterproofing and hardening it with linseed oil before being dried. The English were the main manufacturers of papier mâché for architectural ornament. In addition to a variety of wall and ceiling mouldings in various styles, Charles F Bielefeld used papier mâché to manufacture complete columns, corbels, ceiling centres and frames for mirrors and pictures. By 1847, Bielefeld employed ‘not less than one hundred’ staff and began experimenting with larger papier mâché constructions. Bielefeld made giant Corinthian capitals, 22 feet in circumference, for an Australian bank, as well as large panels for steamships and even complete prefabricated houses.

Although papier mâché remained well used for architectural mouldings in England throughout the 19th century, in Australia the development of hemp-reinforced plaster meant that papier mâché was seldom used beyond the 1860s.