Faux Bois

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Torii Gate by Dionisio Rodriguez at Brackenridge Park, San Antonio, Texas.
Torii Gate by Dionisio Rodriguez at Brackenridge Park, San Antonio, Texas.
Torii Gate by Dionisio Rodriguez at Brackenridge Park, San Antonio, Texas
Torii Gate by Dionisio Rodriguez at Brackenridge Park, San Antonio, Texas


Faux Bois (from the French for false wood) refers to the artistic imitation of wood or wood grains in various media.

Ferrocement Faux Bois uses a combination of concrete, mortar and cement paste applied to steel frames or armatures to sculpt three dimensional representations of wooden objects. Most popular in the late 19th century through the 1940s, Ferrocement Faux Bois has largely disappeared with the passing of those most expert in its practice. What few objects remain from that peak period (mostly in the form of garden art, such as planters and birdbaths) are now highly prized by collectors.

In Mexico, this style was known as "El Trabajo Rustico" (The Rustic Work). One highly regarded artist who worked in this style was Dionisio Rodriguez, a Mexican who relocated to Texas in the early 1920s. Although not widely known, his large-scale Faux Bois installations have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • The Garden Art Forum, an online tutorial describing the basic techniques of Ferrocement Faux Bois
  • Dionicio Rodriguez in San Antonio, a personal website dedicated to the work of Dionisio Rodriguez' work at Brackenridge Park in San Antonio, Texas.
  • [1] Modern Ferrocement Faux Bois