Abstract
Cimorné is a decorative cement render that consists of a pigmented cement mortar in which opalescent glass granules are projected to create a unique textured and coloured façade. Plasterer Pierre Pétroons developed and patented this remarkable finish in the early 1930s. Probably inspired by Italian terrazzo finishes, he started to experiment with mass coloured and opalescent glass granules. Cimorné was applied all over Belgium in the inter-war period: both Walloon labourers' cottages and new modernistic villas were covered with cimorné. This craftsmanship, however, developed very locally because of the oral transmission of the formula and application technique. Hence hardly any information or knowledge is available for future restoration. Thus a wide range of sources was consulted in order to reconstruct the origin of raw materials (both cement mortar and opalescent glass), the original formula, possible application methods and the evolution and spread of this remarkable rendering technique. Knowledge obtained from the consultation of archival documents like patents, plasterer and glassmaking manuals, journals and building specifications was supplemented with testimonies of retired plasterers. The historical sourced data were compared with results of laboratory analyses of onsite lifted cimorné and glass samples. This paper contributes to the valorization of cimorné render, providing insight into its origin, development, composition and characteristics, which will result in pilot restoration trials and will contribute to future renovation projects.
Published Version
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