Difference between revisions of "Composition"

From CAMEO
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(username removed)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
  
A thermoplastic molding material. Composition, or compo, was used for interior ornamental reliefs during the 18th century. It was very popular for the mass production of molded objects until the mid-20th century when it was replaced by plastics. Many recipes exist for composition. Early recipes were similar to [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=papier%20m%C3%A2ch%C3%A9 papier mâché] except the [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=paper paper] was first reduced to a pulp, then one or more binders ([http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=animal%20glue animal glue], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=linseed%20oil linseed oil] and/or [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=shellac shellac]) were added along with a [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=pigment pigment] and [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=filler filler] ([http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=plaster plaster], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=clay clay], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=alum alum], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=flour flour], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=chalk chalk], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=sawdust sawdust], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=tissue%20paper tissue paper] and/or [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=starch starch]). While warm, the mixture was pressed into molds where it cooled and hardened. Other materials such as [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=egg eggs], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=wax waxes], and [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=drier driers] were also added. Synthetic resins, such as [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=cellulose%20nitrate cellulose nitrate], were mixed with sawdust to make inexpensive molded dolls in the early 20th century.
+
A thermoplastic molding material. Composition, or compo, was used for interior ornamental reliefs during the 18th century. It was very popular for the mass production of molded objects until the mid-20th century when it was replaced by plastics. Many recipes exist for composition. Early recipes were similar to [[papier mâché]] except the [[paper]] was first reduced to a pulp, then one or more binders ([[animal glue]], [[linseed oil]] and/or [[shellac]]) were added along with a [[pigment]] and [[filler]] ([[plaster]], [[clay]], [[alum]], [[flour]], [[chalk]], [[sawdust]], [[tissue paper]] and/or [[starch]]). While warm, the mixture was pressed into molds where it cooled and hardened. Other materials such as [[egg|eggs]], [[wax|waxes]], and [[drier|driers]] were also added. Synthetic resins, such as [[cellulose nitrate]], were mixed with sawdust to make inexpensive molded dolls in the early 20th century.
  
 
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
 
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==

Revision as of 10:20, 13 January 2014

Description

A thermoplastic molding material. Composition, or compo, was used for interior ornamental reliefs during the 18th century. It was very popular for the mass production of molded objects until the mid-20th century when it was replaced by plastics. Many recipes exist for composition. Early recipes were similar to Papier mâché except the Paper was first reduced to a pulp, then one or more binders (Animal glue, Linseed oil and/or Shellac) were added along with a Pigment and Filler (Plaster, Clay, Alum, Flour, Chalk, Sawdust, Tissue paper and/or Starch). While warm, the mixture was pressed into molds where it cooled and hardened. Other materials such as eggs, waxes, and driers were also added. Synthetic resins, such as Cellulose nitrate, were mixed with sawdust to make inexpensive molded dolls in the early 20th century.

Synonyms and Related Terms

compo

Additional Information

° J.Wetherall "The History and Techniques of Composition" in Gilding and Surface Decoration, UKIC Restoration, October 1991. ° J.Thornton "Compo: The History and Technology of Plastic Compositions" AIC Preprints, Washington DC meeting, 1985.

Authority

  • Dictionary of Building Preservation, Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996

Retrieved from "https://cameo.mfa.org/index.php?title=Composition&oldid=43879"