The Flare Journal
The buildings, eras and objects that tell the story of decorative plaster in Britain.
15 articles to read
The pediment began as the gable of a Greek temple and ended up over the front doors of Georgian Britain. How it travelled, the main types, and where...
After the dark Victorian parlour came something lighter. A guide to Edwardian colours, picture rails, plasterwork and how to restore a house from the 1900s.
Candles, mirrors, gas and electricity: how the humble wall sconce has lit our rooms for centuries, and why it is enjoying a revival.
From Greek temples to the ceiling rose above your head: how one Mediterranean plant became the most widely used leaf in Western ornament.
Plaster is one of the oldest building materials in the world. Where it comes from and how decorative plasterwork developed.
Every era had its own colours. A short guide to the palettes that suit Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian and 1930s homes.
From a hilltop villa near Vicenza to the front door of a Georgian terrace: the story of Palladio, his followers and the pediment.
Egg and dart, dentils, acanthus and anthemion: the language of plasterwork, explained simply.
From 1714 to 1830, British homes were built on proportion and calm. Here is what makes a Georgian interior, and how plaster details bring it back.
The designer, poet and campaigner who believed ordinary objects should be made well and made beautifully, and why his ideas matter to anyone who loves handmade things.
Why do so many old houses have a plaster rose in the middle of the ceiling? The answer involves gas lamps, soot and a nineteenth-century invention.
A design school that ran for just fourteen years but changed how the world builds, furnishes and lights a room.
Starbursts, atomic shapes and warm timber: how post-war optimism produced one of the most collected design styles of all.
Few shapes have travelled as far as the scallop shell. A short history of a motif that has meant love, pilgrimage and glamour.
Our studio is in Shrewsbury, surrounded by some of Britain's most remarkable buildings. A short tour of the county that inspires our work.
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Every piece is cast by hand to order in Shrewsbury.
Hello, I'm Fabian. I live in the Flare studio. Pick a question and I'll answer straight away.
Plaster, cast by hand in our Shrewsbury studio. The wall lights are cast in fibreglass reinforced plaster.
See how they're made →Every piece is made to order, so the dispatch time is listed on each product. Delivery within the UK is free.
Delivery details →Yes. Paintable pieces can blend with your wall or ceiling, or stand out in a contrasting colour. Natural cast and primed finishes need different preparation.
Fitting and painting guide →Choose a battery LED with remote, which needs no wiring at all, or a mains E14 version for an existing wall point.
Shop wall lights →Check the centre opening on each product: a solid centre or a 50 mm opening. Not sure? Send Joseph a photo and your measurements.
Message Joseph →Yes. Interior designers, architects and trade professionals can apply for trade terms, including matched pairs, sets and bespoke sizes for certain designs.
Trade accounts →Follow the studio on Instagram. Pieces are moulded, cast and finished in our posts and stories.
Follow on Instagram →Yes! Everything is 20% off in the Flare Sale. The discount comes off automatically at checkout, so there is no code to enter.
Shop now →Of course. Joseph answers personally on WhatsApp. Weekend messages are answered the next business day.
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