Someone to Re-Marble-ize Slate Mantles
I have the pieces (I hope all of them) of three slate mantles in my basement, which I’m hoping to re-install. They’re covered in about 500 layers of paint. I couldn’t save the original ‘marble’ finish, but the slate is 2 different colours. I think the best approach will be to restore the marbling to…
I have the pieces (I hope all of them) of three slate mantles in my basement, which I’m hoping to re-install. They’re covered in about 500 layers of paint. I couldn’t save the original ‘marble’ finish, but the slate is 2 different colours. I think the best approach will be to restore the marbling to them. Can anyone recommend someone that might be able to do this for me?
Also any recommendations on someone to help work out the puzzle and get them re-installed? Most of the pieces are so heavy I can’t move them at all.
Thanks as always for the help!
I had a similar case with an old slate mantle that was pepto bismol pink when I got it. While stripping it I uncovered some really wild faux stone painting, that was obviously not painted on with a brush, or splattered on, or any of the other faux methods I was used to. All the paint was on the same level and very smooth. I looked into it and apparently one of the methods that used to be fairly common was to float oil paints on water, stir them just enough to make a pattern between the different colors, but not blend them, and then carefully dip the stone into the paint mix without disturbing the water that it was sitting on. Supposedly it’s the same process that used to be used for marblizing end papers on old books as well.
Not that this helps you out, but I thought it was cool. You would have to do it before installation though.
I don’t have information for you, but sounds like a great project, good luck.
Thanks, Mopar!
When I searched the forum I found a post about someone who was restoring his mantles, and a reference to a link on the marbling technique, but I couldn’t see a link anywhere. Is that the guy you are talking about? I’d be very interested to know how his project turned out.
I didn’t realise the finish was kiln sealed. It was obvious that it was done before the mantles were put together as the original finish survives on all the pieces that were behind other pieces, so to speak, in the finished installation.
They’re pretty cool, and it’s fun to see the paint come off and all the patterns emerging. One of them looks like it might have been a bit similar to the one in the picture, with marbling, and inset panels of black slate. The other I think was all marbled and the slate underneath seems to be a mixture of green and reddish black, which is a bit odd looking, like not wearing matching underwear.
I’m wondering if it makes sense to get them re-installed first, and then try and refinish – that way I can preserve the original bits in the interests of authentic historical preservation – just in case anyone ever cares.
Manny Lasalle can sort them out and get them reinstalled. He just removed a wood mantle and replaced it with a slate mantle for me and did a lovely job.
As for the marble detail, I was corresponding with someone here on Brownstoner who was thinking about doing this for a living (he works professionally in a related field). If he doesn’t answer the question himself, I can email him.
Just FYI, the original marbleizing was done in the factory, and sealed in a kiln with high heat, so the finish anyone is able to do at home is probably not going to be exactly the same. But the person I am referring to above had an original manual and a great deal of knowledge of materials and thought he could get it pretty close.
He was restoring one of his own mantles. Would love to know how it turned out.