Blog

Thomas Parsons' - Flat samples
Apr 25th, 2011 | | Colour Ranges | Paint Technical | 4 Comments

Parsons’ Decorative Finishes (1) – The Book

The recent analysis of the original decorative schemes of London's Cafe Royal proved the worth of my many years specialist-book-collecting. It is always good to be able to demonstrate to my long-suffering wife that...

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Geffrye - 1880s almshouse
Apr 22nd, 2011 | | Paint Technical | 6 Comments

Soft Distemper

Soft distemper on the walls of this almshouse - Geffrye Museum Soft distemper (sometimes known as Calcimine) is a traditional water-based coating for plaster surfaces. As it allows the wall beneath to ‘breathe’...

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Parsons - Pompeian Colours
Apr 18th, 2011 | | Colour Ranges | Comments Off

A Tint Book of Historical Colours

SOME COLOURS FROM THE DECORATIVE AND APPLIED ARTS Pompeian and Etruscan Colours "Long Acre1 in the year 1802 was an ideal situation for a firm of colour and varnish makers, the neighbourhood being the cradle of...

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Werner's Nomenclature - Orange
Apr 16th, 2011 | | Colour Ranges | 4 Comments

Werner’s Nomenclature of Colours

Colour charts for use in taxonomic descriptions of plants and animals were published from the last years of the seventeenth century. The page above is one of thirteen in a wonderful little volume, whose second...

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The Man of Taste by William Hogarth
Dec 21st, 2010 | | Aesthetics | 2 Comments

The Folly of Taste

The Man of Taste A recent feature in one of the glossy interiors magazines brought to mind the above cartoon and the sentiment associated with it. In his print The Man of Taste William Hogarth attacks...

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Patrick Baty produced this range of 1960s paint colours from contemporary sources
Dec 16th, 2010 | | Colour Ranges | No Comments

Another Look at 1960s Paint Colours

Caution - Those of a nervous disposition should look no further! Patrick has already written about the background to the range of 1960s paint colours that he produced for Papers and Paints a couple of years ago. ...

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Limewash is gradually being replaced by masonry paint in the Algarve. Patrick Baty has recorded its decline over the years
Dec 8th, 2010 | | Paint Technical | 3 Comments

Limewash versus Paint – An Urban View

Limewash: Yes! Softened by the sun, grappa and holiday spirit it seemed such a good idea to use limewash on returning from the Mediterranean. Limewash has several winning features but a universal coating it...

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Patrick Baty was able to demonstrate that the streaking of the masonry paint was due to having been applied in poor weather
Dec 7th, 2010 | | Colour Services | Paint Technical | 7 Comments

Green Paint – Red Face

Background A complaint about masonry paint that we had supplied had prompted me to write up an earlier problem (Black Paint – Red Faces ). On that occasion airborne dirt settling on the façade of a newly-painted...

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Patrick Baty demonstrated that the black dust on the window cills was airborne pollution not paint
Dec 7th, 2010 | | Colour Services | Paint Technical | No Comments

Black Paint – Red Faces

“Your paint is streaking terribly. I want you to come round and sort it out.” Oh dear! Not the sort of telephone conversation to have with a client when one is a few hundred miles away on half-term holiday...

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Sep 22nd, 2010 | | Colour Services | 2 Comments

The Royal Warrant

A Royal Warrant is a mark of recognition to people or companies who have supplied goods or services to HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh or HRH The Prince of Wales. Today there are around 850 Royal Warrant...

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