How was the Spanish Ceiling made?
The Spanish Ceiling includes four wooden transverse beams and twenty-three cross-beams in each of its five sections. In addition to being the main component of the ceiling itself, wood was also used for the scaffolding, lifting cranes, and other structures used to construct the ceiling. Each main wood panel was probably shaped independently on the ground, then raised into place and secured, followed by the cross-beams and transverse beams. The Spanish Ceiling was assembled using a combination of heavy wrought-iron nails and wood adhesives. The cross beams were installed parallel and equidistant from each other. The thin heraldic panels which run alongside and slightly above the cross-beams were likely dry-fitted into slots pre-cut for them. All of the exposed surfaces of the ceiling were then painted with floral and geometric ornament in vibrant contrasting colors. The majority of the painting and ornamental decoration was completed after the construction of the ceiling, then layered with varnish and protective coatings commonly used in the time period.
