Pietre Dure Fireplace

My client wanted a bit more pizazz added to his fireplace mantel than your typical faux marble. Since it had a long open panel, I suggested a design based on a pietre dure bird motif found on an 18th century antique English mantel.

To achieve a convincing effect, the panel was given a skim coat of plaster and the design was incised, then painted, then coated with a satin finish varnish.