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...
READ MORE »Parsons’ Decorative Finishes (1) – The Book
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’...
READ MORE »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...
READ MORE »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...
READ MORE »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...
READ MORE »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. ...
READ MORE »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...
READ MORE »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...
READ MORE »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...
READ MORE »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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