Have you checked out a system where it hangs from the ceiling instead of on the walls

Does it have the original molding? Many from that era would have a picture rail molding. You can google it. http://thecraftsmanblog.com/what-is-picture-rail/

we have horsehair plaster over lath, and have had no trouble predrilling and then using a screw, not a nail, into the lath. if the drill goes in easy it means it missed lath (the wall is mostly lath, so thats lowish odds) and we drill a second hole ABOVE the first.

we are also more likely to hang heavier pictures over 2 screws. and check them about a month later, if the art is valuable.

we got this method from the guy at the hardware store; the neighborhood is mostly 19th century houses so we're all in the same boat.

I have picture rails in some of my rooms and use them for their intended purpose.

We drill holes for plastic wall anchors and then screw the hangers into those anchors. We use special hooks that are earthquake proof, as I've had a lot of things come off the walls in the past. My brother likes this kind, but it is difficult to take anything down from these hooks, and it requires two people for large art. We hung a heavy piece yesterday in the studio.

The upstairs bedrooms, bathroom and downstairs powder room in my 1939 house have plaster walls and all the rooms (except the new addition) have plaster ceilings. There is no separate picture railing as I've seen in some old homes, but the ceiling trim (it was built up in separate pieces back then) has, in effect, space for picture hardware -- use a cord to hang the art.

For lightweight art, I would go with command hooks. For valuable and fragile lightweight art, I'd use earthquake hooks screwed in.

We're in a 1939 house with horseshoe plaster over lath; no picture railing. We use the same method as Lars.

I agree with Jan Moyer. We have original 85-year old rough plaster walls. I make a light pencil mark for the nail, put a little piece of Scotch tape over it, and gently tap in the nail and hook with a large-ish hammer. Have never lost a picture and never shattered the plaster; it works every time. And so easy!

Hit a stud with a good deck screw, or get behind the plaster with something like this:

http://www.toggler.com/products/snaptoggle/installation.php

Uh................... no on above. Sorry but I hang a thousand pictures a year on average : )

Agree with Jan and Sable-my dad also used to put a piece of tape (he used masking tape, though) over the spot for the nail. Never had a problem.

We also do the same as Sable. And we never reuse a nail.