Period Mouldings

Classify architectural period plaster covings in terms of the use of form, techniques, materials such as gypsum, (plaster of Paris) time period, region and other stylistic influences. It overlaps with, and emerges from the study of the evolution and history of architecture. In architectural history, the study of Gothic architecture, for instance, would include all aspects of the cultural context that went into the design and construction of these structures. Hence, architectural period plaster coving styles is a way of classifying architecture that gives emphasis to characteristic features of design, leading to a terminology such as coving.

During the 18th century, a few English architects immigrated to the colonies, but as the British Empire became firmly established during the 19th century many architects emigrated at the start of their careers. Some chose the United States, and others went to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Normally, they applied architectural plaster coving styles that were fashionable when they left England. By the latter half of the century, however, improving transport and communications meant that even remote parts of the Empire had access to publications such as the magazine The Builder, which helped colonial architects keep, informed about current fashion. Thus, the influence of English architecture spread across the world. Several prominent architects produced English-derived plaster coving designs around the world, including William Butterfield (St Peter’s Cathedral, Adelaide) and Jacob Wray Mould (Chief Architect of Public Works in New York City).

At Coving Shop, the Victorian coving and Victorian cornice are the most popular plaster products we supply. These period plaster coving cornicing bring an air of decadence and class to any room. This style of plaster coving cornicing typically has many ridges, curves and deep inner cove along with a long projection onto the ceiling and a shallow depth. Victorian plaster coving cornicing also helps to improve the property value of your room, which explains why it is often used by building companies, property developers and people looking to move up the property ladder.

Each design has a brief description along with information on suitable ceiling heights.

In this area at Decor mouldings , we look era by era at the architectural design styles used.

In almost every era we find more than one style being popular. Even when the design cognoscenti, or the wealthy, favour one style, we find vernacular architecture or the homes of people in ordinary towns and cities borrowing from current plaster coving and past styles.
It is rare to be able to label any house as being of a single style. The typical middle or working class home was built by a small builder who would buy a plot of land, build one or two houses and immediately sell them freehold or leasehold to a landlord.

This speculative builder built what he liked, was familiar with and could sell easily and profitably. These houses were influenced by contemporary fashions but were no more ‘designer houses’ than the typical house of today.

1558-1603 Elizabeth,  1689-1694 William & Mary William & Mary,1694-1702 William III, 1702-1714 Anne Queen Anne, 1714-1727 George I Early Georgian, 1727-1760 George II Georgian, 1760-1812 George III Late Georgian, 1812-1820 George III Regency, 1820-1830 George IV Late Regency 1830-1837 William IV William IV, 1837-1860 Victoria Early Victorian, 1860-1901 Victoria Late Victorian, 1901-1910 Edwardian VII Edwardian 1910-1936 George V, 1936-1936 Edward VIII, 1936-1952 George VI, The Edwardian era loosely covers 1900-1918.