Painting in plaster: the art of scagliola

Italian artist Cecilia Falciai practises the ancient inlay technique of scagliola, using plaster, pigments and glue to create intricate decorative compositions. Traditionally worked on a slate support, engraved areas are filled with mixtures of coloured plaster to build the design. During the live demonstration at Homo Faber 2026, Cecilia will engrave a slate slab using a mallet and chisels, revealing firsthand the precision required to prepare the surface for inlay. She will prepare and apply a mixture of plaster and pigments to show how the coloured inlays are created, and samples will illustrate the different stages of the process.

Exhibitor

Cecilia Falciai

Scagliola maker | Florence, Italy