An example of French Grey from a 1930s colour range There is only so much information that can be obtained by studying the layers of paint in a room: a) the colours used (obviously); b) the pigments employed -...
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Traditional British Colours – Coronation of King George VI
"A moth-eaten rag on a worm-eaten pole, it does not look likely to stir a man's soul, 'Tis the deeds that were done 'neath the moth-eaten rag, When the pole was a staff and the rag was a flag."1 This book on...
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Colour and Lighting in Factories and Offices
In these days, when an ability in Interior Design is often seen to be no more than the selection of a completely impractical 'chalky paint' from a ‘Boutique’ paint supplier and an artfully placed pair of old...
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Ministry of Works Colour Schemes
MINISTRY OF WORKS COLOUR SCHEMES (Official Colour Card No. 1 1952)* This little aid to the decoration of Ministry of Works offices of the early 1950s really is little, measuring only 16.5cm x 6.5cm. However, as...
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Ridgway Color Standards and Color Nomenclature
Robert Ridgway was an American ornithologist, who was the first full-time curator of birds at the United States National Museum. He served from 1880 until his death in 1929. Ridgway also published one of the...
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Pea Green
Fresh Peas - with thanks to Gerry the Cook Pea Green is a colour name that immediately conjures up an image, but on reflection is it the colour of fresh peas, frozen peas, tinned peas or (forgive the accent) mushy...
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A Dictionary of Color Names
The ISCC-NBS Method of Designating Colors and A Dictionary of Color Names was published by the National Bureau of Standards and printed by the U.S. Government Printing Office in 1955. It is a curious work, and...
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Hay’s Nomenclature of Colours (1)
Plate 1 The Primary Colours above and the Secondary Colours below1 A Nomenclature of Colours, Hues, Tints, and Shades, Applicable to the Arts and Natural Sciences; to Manufactures, and other Purposes of General...
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Colours for Flat Finishes for Wall Decoration
British Standard 1572: 1949 Colours for Flat Finishes for Wall Decoration was a range of paint colours designed for the Ministry of Works for the purpose of interior decoration. This range of 17 colours (two...
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