History

• The art of creating faux marble was used in Pompeii, and then later in the rest of Europe during the Renaissance period. The techniques of faux marbling were perfected in the seventeenth century, and the tradition continues into modern times. Faux marble reached its peak of populrity between 1845 and 1870 in Britain. The most skilled artist of this time was Thomas Kershaw. Kershaw achieved international fame for his work with faux marble, with many believing his work was indiscernible from real marble. He held the title of finest marbler in the world for 150 years until William Holgate became known for his faux marble expertise, winning the Lifetime Achievement award in 2001.
  
  

Function

• Faux marble is generally used in buildings where the cost or weight of real marble would not be practical. It can be used on floors, walls, furniture, fireplaces, columns and pillars, to create the look of real marble without the outrageous costs. This technique is also employed in many Art Deco and Art Nouveau buildings. Since the early 1990s, many faux marble finishes have been restored in historic Eastern European buildings.
  
  

Types

• There are several types of faux marble, the most well-known being a painted finish. Scagliola is another type of faux marbling. It is a particular technique for creating the finish using pigmented plasters to imitate the veins of real marble. Terrazzo is a form of faux marble used for floors and counter tops. This technique uses marble chips that are embedded into cement and polished to expose the marble aggregate.
  
  

Benefits

• The major benefit of faux marble is the reduced price. Faux marble is a very cost-efficient alternative to using the expensive stone. Faux marble captures the beauty of the stone without the significant cost. It can look nearly identical to the real thing if created by a professional marbler. However, anyone can try the technique and many DIY guides and kits are available.
  
  

Warning

• Marblers are specially trained in the art of creating a faux marble finish. Although there are many materials available to teach the novice how to create faux marble, the result may be less than desirable. The inexperienced may suggest the appearance of marble, but a skilled faux finisher can accurately reproduce the color, veining and luster of real marble.