Gesso work, to a small extent, lias b:en employed in the decorative arts for a very long time; but it is only of late years that gesso has been recognised as a material with which effects can be obtained by simple ami easily acquired methods. The possibilities of gesso for decoration are almost limitless; the material enters into the composition of panels for furniture, it forms the mosl effective friezes, etc., and can be employed on caskets, brackets, picture frames, and the score of fancy articles which nearly every home contains. Gesso is a kind of plaster decoration, presenting a raised and indented surface, which may atterwards he coloured. It differs from stucco, to which it is akin, in not carrying within itself a hardening principle that is awakened by mere slaking with water. Stucco hardens like plaster-of-Paris; gesso contains glue, oil, etc., for binding the chalk which is its chief ingredient. Gesso can be applied with a, brush; stucco can be put on better with modelling tools. Gesso is for lower relief and finer work than stucco. The body stuff of gesso must be whiting, chalk, killed plaster-of-Paris, or something similar; hone-stone and pumice have been used. Glue, linseed oil, pitch, resin, and turpentine are employed to bind the stuff together.

Very little oil is required, less resin, and still less pitch; all three may be left out. This is a reliable recipe for gesso: Mix 10 oz. of glue in 2 1/2 pt. of water, 8 oz. of white resin in 1 1/2pt. of linseed oil, and 2 oz. of pitch in i gill of Venice turpentine. Mix together by the aid of heat 6 parts of the glue-water, 1 part of the resin oil, and fa part of the pitch solution. " Gilders' " whiting that has already been crushed to a powder, or soaked and converted into a paste, must then be stirred into the hot solution; with the paste, less water will be wanted in the glue solution. Wheu of the right consistency for application with a brush, this is called '"thick white"; gilders' "stopping" is the same stuff brought to the consistency of dough, and the " compo," used for making the ornament round a frame for subsequent gilding, is gesso. Resin varnish and some kinds of driers may be used with glue and whiting to make gesso. Water and linseed oil when shaken up together form a mixture, and if to this some whiting is added, gesso is left as the water dries out. This, having the consistencj' of cream, is applied to the sized or lacquered wood by means of a brush.

The decoration may be brought into higher relief by applying two or more coats, and, whilst still soft, the composition may be modelled with the brush. If left flat, a good ground for painting upon is formed. Some idea of the appearance of a piece of gesso work when completed can be gained by imagining a plaster cast of some figure decorated with silver and gold, and tinted with metallic colours. The effect of well-executed work is rich and harmonious. It is quite possible, of course, that instead of being harmonious it may be garish and vulgar; the worker alone is to blame if a pleasing effect is not secured.