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Chalkware is an American term for popular figurines either made of moulded plaster of Paris (usually) or sculpted gypsum, and painted, typically with oils or watercolors. Early chalkware was often hollow and is difficult to find unblemished.
Is chalkware valuable?
Humble chalkware objects considered a form of folk art, once sold from peddler’s packs, are still modestly priced at $200 or more when they come to auction. However, the more unique and rare the form, the prices can be over a thousand dollars.
How can you tell if you have chalkware?
Pick up the pieces to gauge their weight. Chalkware pieces are heavy on the bottom. All chalkware is hollow, but old pieces are lighter because they lack the heavy plaster base that chalkware artists began to incorporate to keep the figurines from tipping over. Reproductions are heavier than old pieces.
Is vintage chalkware valuable?
American artists cast their plaster-of-Paris molds in the shapes of birds, animals and, sometimes, people and sold them for just a few cents each in the latter part of the last century. Today an authentic piece in good condition could carry a price tag of several hundred dollars.
Can chalkware go outside?
Do not leave Vaillancourt Chalkware outside or in direct sunlight. Any long term storage should be in a dry location, wrapped in tissue and boxed. Wrapping your chalkware with plastic or bubble may cause damage to the piece’s finish if stored in a warm or humid environment.
What is vintage chalkware?
Chalkware is an American term for popular figurines either made of moulded plaster of Paris (usually) or sculpted gypsum, and painted, typically with oils or watercolors. Heavy, and easy to break or chip, chalkware eventually lost favor to ceramic and plastic alternatives in the 1970s.
Is chalkware fragile?
Chalkware is, essentially, Plaster of Paris—inexpensive, lightweight, and ultimately very, very fragile.
How do you fix chalkware?
Repairing Cracks or Broken Pieces Apply a small line of Elmer’s glue to the broken sections. Press the pieces together and hold in place until glue sets. Wipe off excess glue that gets squeezed out. Let dry for 24 hours.
What is Carnival chalkware?
Carnival chalkware is an American term for the figurines made most often out of plaster of Paris (though some were made of gypsum) and painted bright colors using oils or watercolors that were won at carnivals and fairs of this time period.
How do you make chalkware?
You can easily create your very own nostalgic chalkware at home. Spread a few layers of newspapers over a flat working surface. Run water into the 3D molds to wet the inside surfaces. Turn each mold upside down, with the fill hole up. Mix the plaster of paris according to the package instructions.
What is Rockalite?
Rockalite is a semi-brittle material as the amount of shortening for prior to failure by rupturing is between 5 and 10 %. ( Rupture occurs after the dashed blue line).
Where was chalkware made?
Chalkware blanks being produced within the pouring room at the Vaillancourt Folk Art studios in Sutton, MA. During the 19th century, chalkware was sculpted gypsum painted effortlessly with watercolors. Because most chalkware was sold by carnival vendors, it was considered the “poor man’s porcelain.”.
What is a Bosson head?
Have you ever seen the plaster painted heads hanging on someone’s wall and wondered what they were? They are called wall sculptures, or simply Bossons after the English company that made them between 1946 and 1996 as ornaments for every room in the home.
Will plaster of Paris last outside?
Plaster of Paris is an extremely porous material when dried, and as such, will absorb any new water that touches its surface. In order to waterproof plaster of Paris for outdoor use or for temporary exposure to water, you must fill in as many surface pores as possible.
Does plaster last outside?
Plaster can be found both inside and outside homes. Exterior cement plaster is used in the construction of buildings, and it doesn’t need to be waterproofed because it is made of cement. It is also a very strong material, and even without paint, it can withstand extreme outside conditions.
How do you clean chalkware statues?
Care must be taken in cleaning them: they must never be soaked, rinsed or held under running water. Dust chalkware regularly, using a dry, soft cloth, to prevent an accumulation of dirt. Use a cotton swab or a soft-bristled paintbrush to gently work on embedded and stubborn dirt, especially in recessed areas.
What is Marwal?
ANSWER: A Polynesian craze swept across America in the 1950s. Marwal offered a wide variety of plaster of Paris statuary, among which were several variations of head and shoulder busts of Polynesian/Hawaiian woman/girls and men/boys.
How do you clean an old plaster statue?
Begin cleaning by dusting the object with a brush, directing the dust into a vacuum cleaner. Padding the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner with cloth or thin foam plastic will help to avoid damage to the object.
What is plaster of Paris?
Plaster of paris, quick-setting gypsum plaster consisting of a fine white powder (calcium sulfate hemihydrate), which hardens when moistened and allowed to dry. Known since ancient times, plaster of paris is so called because of its preparation from the abundant gypsum found near Paris.
How do you restore a plaster statue?
The key is to gather up all of the broken pieces. Glue all of the pieces back into position with school glue. Fill in any large gaps with tissue or paper towels loaded with glue. Paint layers of glue into fine lines and cracks. Repaint the sculpture when you have finished smoothing it.
How do you repair a plaster of Paris statue?
How do you repair a plaster sculpture? Glue all of the pieces back into position with school glue. Fill in any large gaps with tissue or paper towels loaded with glue. Paint layers of glue into fine lines and cracks. Repaint the sculpture when you have finished smoothing it.
