Forty million years ago, the Île-de-France was a tropical sea. Salt deposits at the bottom of the water and evaporation from the sea have produced crystals called gypsum or plaster stone. This mineral has preserved many fossils and bone remains of the mammals that inhabited this region but it is also coveted and exploited since the Gallo-Roman era for its potential to produce plaster. Once cast, it showed aesthetic qualities by its finesse as well as the ability to preserve the deceased in sarcophagi or to protect homes from fires. Thus, to exploit this mineral, quarries were formed in the region and particularly in Montreuil. The material, the technique and the know-how allowed the peaches to exist.
The history of this Montreuil heritage is initially transmitted by a speech adapted to children during the visits that we propose. To allow them to better visualize the object of this story, we show them pieces of gypsum provided by The Plaster Museum that they can manipulate and then we make them make plaster works.
Course of the plaster activity
In the first part of this manual activity, achievements are arranged on floor trays. The plaster was previously cast on molds representing the peach wall and a trained fruitform. Children can peel them off molds
After that, in their turn to make this impression. The children each have their own mold, we show them the process of making from plaster in powder form. Water is poured into a basin, then with the help of a spoon, it is the turn of this powder to be added at water level. Once the water has drunk the plaster, we can mix. With this task completed, the children dip their spoon into it and place a layer on the mold. Since the drying process takes about two hours, parents who wish can come and pick them up later, otherwise these works serve as models for subsequent children.