The Ceiling
Way back in antiquity, the ceiling was simply a way to keep the rain off, and unless the roof/ceiling was made from solid stone, not many have survived. Early ceilings were pretty much made of wood and as you can imagine, sealing technology was not up to current standards. The renaissance period is known for a opulent ceilings that, in their own right, are exceptional works of art. The Sistine Chapel, Versailles and many more opulent ceilings of the period are famous for their beauty. Away from Europe the mosques of the islamic world are extremely ornate and intensely beautiful. The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem was completed almost a thousand years before the renaissance and remains today one of the most gorgeous representations of islamic architecture. As time went on the decorative use of the ceiling fell by the wayside, that is until the early 1900s.
Textured Ceiling
Asbestos was very well known as a fireproof material by the time acoustical ceilings came into fashion. The original purpose for textured ceilings was simply to cover up imperfections. Before drywall, both ceilings and walls inside of a home were made of slats of wood with plaster over the top. Texturing was an effective way to cover up the small imperfections involved with the process. As texturing evolved into almost an art form in itself, the materials used moved from wood slats to drywall. With the advent of drywall, the challenge became hiding tape, nails and seams, not much different than using boards but due to the weight of drywall a lighter weight substance needed to be utilized. Thus, the popcorn ceiling was born.
Fire Resistant Ceiling