A plaster ceiling is a ceiling finished with a layer of plaster, traditionally applied over wooden laths fixed to the joists, and often decorated with mouldings, ribs, cornices or ornamental relief. In historic houses the decorative plaster ceiling is one of the most important elements of an interior.
In England elaborate plaster ceilings first flourished in the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods, with geometric ribs, strapwork, pendants and heraldic motifs worked in lime plaster. The seventeenth century brought deeply modelled wreaths of fruit and flowers, while the Palladian and neoclassical eras introduced compartmented ceilings and the refined designs of Robert Adam, with delicate swags, paterae and fans, often picked out in colour. The Victorians produced decorative ceilings in large quantities, using cast fibrous plaster for roses and cornices. Historic ceilings are vulnerable to water damage, vibration and the failure of the lath nails or keys, and sagging plaster should be assessed by a specialist conservator before any work. Repair with lime-based materials and recording of lost detail is preferred to replacement. A well-preserved plaster ceiling greatly adds to the character and value of a period house.
