Holy Name Cathedral: Historical Plastering Restoration
Built after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, Holy Name Cathedral is a fitting seat for one of the largest and most influential Roman Catholic archdioceses in the United States.
The cathedral’s towering Gothic Revival design, by prominent Irish-born, East Coast architect Patrick Charles Keely, served as a template for many neighborhood parishes. It has stood as an awe-inspiring island, despite nearly 150 years of constant change on Chicago’s Near North Side.
While there were many repairs needed, the ZMartin Plastering team of craftsmen were tasked with creating multiple matching and intricately designed plaster corbels that required precision and skill. Craftsmen began by meticulously sculpting a master corbel, carefully shaping its form and detailing its intricate design, which served as a template for creating multiple replicas.
Next, our craftsmen created molds from the master corbel using materials such as silicone or plaster. These molds captured every detail of the original design, ensuring consistency among the replicas. Once the molds were prepared, craftsmen poured plaster into them, allowing it to set and cure.
After the plaster had hardened, the corbel replicas were carefully removed from the molds. Our craftsmen then refined each corbel, smoothing out any imperfections and perfecting the intricate details by hand.
Finally, the corbels were allowed to dry completely before being finished with paint or gilding to achieve the desired appearance. Throughout the process, meticulous attention was paid to ensure that each corbel matches the others in size, shape, and design, resulting in a set of beautifully crafted architectural elements that add elegance and character to any space.