140. Under the name of marble are included all variegated stones, and therefore the term “marbling,” like that of “gilding,” which is applied to gold, silver and all metal leaves means considerably more than it should. Truthfully speaking marbles are of lime formation, while granites and jaspers and many others are not. The coloring of the veinings are due to various causes; various substances being deposited and enveloped in the lime formation, some by infiltration of metallic ore beds above the lime formation, which found their way through some of the softer fissures of the imperfectly formed limestone and deposited there. Again, as in honeycomb limestone, substances which deposited along with the lime, but which being more soluble have been washed out of it, leaving the lime full of small holes, as the name indicates. These being subsequently filled up with colored deposits.

141. General directions will be given in this and subsequent lessons as to “how” the various operations used for imitating marbles are performed, and the student will be referred to them when the special description of the various well-known marbles and other stones are given. The same operations being used in nearly all of them, being varied to suit the peculiar needs of each as required.

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marbling

142. There is no need of special brushes or tools for any of the operations about to be described, and the ones described as useful for the imitation of wood by graining will more than suffice as but few brushes are needed. For laying the grounds, some of the larger flat ones and some smaller flat ones to lay in colors in smaller groups, and dry ones to blend them. Some fitches or small bristle artists’ brushes and some camel’s hair pencils with a few wing and tail feathers for putting in some of the finer veins, and badger blenders are about all the tools needed.

143. As to material, white lead and zinc white will form the bulk of it, as it is used either as a base or by itself in all the marbles that will be described, with, of course, the exception of the black marbles. As there are so many colors used in imitating marbles, the whole list may be of use at some time or other, and it will not be necessary to name them all over at this time, as under each marble will be given the ones needed. Light varnishes are required in order to give the finished marble a uniform appearance and as a protection. This is the hardest part of all to procure, as the stronger ones are not fit to use over white or even upon some of the darker ones having white veins, turning them yellowish. Damar varnish is forced upon the marbler, so there is little wonder if many prefer to leave the work as it is without varnishing.

All the above applies to oil color marbling only as work done in distemper is never varnished. The colors needed in water color marbling are the same as for oil work, only they must of course be in the dry state.

144. The walls of halls are sometimes done in imitation of marble slabs, and one is then required to scaffold for it in order to reach them. As directions were given how to reach the walls and ceilings in Vol. II, or “Interior Painting,” the student is referred to that for fuller details. For most work good step ladders will be found best, as they permit the work to be done with more comfort, the operator climbing up or down as needed without having to reach up or bend down too much.

QUESTIONS ON LESSON XXVII.

140. What is said regarding marble formation?

141. What of the general operation used in imitating marbles?

142. What are the tools needed in marbling?

143. What material is used in marbling?

144. What appliances are needed in wall work in order to reach their surfaces?