WoodDigest.com |

The age-old art of grain enhancement is a process that dates back to the late 18th century and early 19th century in Europe. This process of exposing the grain by wire brushing and then filling the pore with a contrasting, yet complementary filler was also identified with the more modernistic lifestyle, even during that time period, just as it is identified today.

Earlier attempts to enhance the wood and create this effect was a very labor- and time-intensive process that involved cleaning out the pores of the wood using wire brushes; dying the raw wood using home-made stains usually produced from plants and berries; adding multiple coats of clear shellac to seal the stain and provide a barrier coat for the “ceruse” process.

The ceruse was a filler made from plaster of Paris, mixed with colorants and lime and applied to the surface, packing the plaster into the pores and leaving a small amount of excess, which would later be removed from the flake of the wood by sanding, leaving the pores completely filled with a contrasting color — usually white or a much lighter let-down of the undertone color. Multiple coats of shellac, (also known as French polishing) were applied to achieve the final protective film. This process yielded a dramatic effect and could take several weeks to accomplish.

Today, we are seeing a revival of this wood enhancement technique referred to as weathered ceruse in residential furniture, kitchen cabinetry and flooring. It continues to work well in a contemporary or casual contemporary setting and the effect is just as dramatic as before. Thanks to technology advancements, we can now produce this look in a much easier, less time-exhausting manner.

This installment was provided by M. Rodney McFalls, director of styling and interpretive design for the RPM Wood Finishes Group.
For more information on recreating this finish, contact ccisales@rpmwfg.com.
For touch-up and repair products for the finish, contact Mktg@mohawk-finishing.com.
Mohawk, Chemical Coatings, Westfield Coatings and Guardian brands are member companies of the RPM Wood Finishes Group.