Venetian Plaster:
Cold to Touch and Smooth as Marble
A mixture of marble dust and slaked lime, Venetian plaster creates a smooth yet dimensional surface. Nora Biehle adds the finest tints, applying 5 to 8 thin layers of Venetian plaster with a metal trowel. The mixture heats up in this process, melting together. Venetian plaster and wax may be combined to achieve a high polish, soft sheen, or rustic finish. When coated with wax afterward, the final surface is called "encaustic."