Bernard Elliott: Master of Plaster

Bernard Elliot is a master plasterer who worked in historic buildings across Charleston. Bernard accredited his expertise to his father, who taught him the trade early in life. He recounts that his father taught him the three L’s - Look, Learn and Listen - a philosophy he embodied throughout his career. In 1972, he founded his own plasterwork company that focused on both repairs and original decorative work. Bernard was widely recognized for his “run-in-place” plasterwork, a repetitive process in which a layer of plaster is applied to a mold that is run along the length of the ceiling to create the desired ornamental effect. He is also praised for his cast plaster ornamentation. Bernard’s exceptional work can be seen in several Charleston buildings including 86 Warren Street. There, he worked closely with David Hoffman to create run-in-place cornices and cast plaster ornamentation in every room of the house. He also completed remarkable plasterwork at 52 Church Street, 37 Church Street and the Cathedral of St. John Baptist. Perhaps Bernard’s most notable project is his plaster cornice in the oval drawing room of the Nathaniel Russell House. It is one of the most complex in the city. Although Bernard favored working in plaster, he was also responsible for the ornamental stucco art of many Charleston buildings including the Women’s Barracks at the Citadel and the VA hospital. Bernard never faced a job he didn’t enjoy and appreciated each opportunity to learn something new, whether it was a different way of working with the material or a new technique employed by a fellow craftsman. For his passion and superiority in plasterwork, Historic Charleston Foundation awarded Bernard the Samuel Gaillard Stoney Conservation Craftsmanship Award in 2015.