Historic Paint Finishes Report: The Original Finishes of the Verandah House, Corinth, Mississippi
Technical Program for the Historic Paint Finishes Study
The 1857 Verandah-Curlee House is remarkable for its architecture as well as for the extraordinary history during the Civil War, having served as the headquarters of both Union and Confederate Generals. The scope of the project covers the five principal rooms: Center Hall and the Four Rooms of the first floor:
Center Hall
Library
Dining Room
South Parlor
Bedroom
On site work: Collection of Samples and Exposure of earlier finishes.
1. Collection of Samples:
Samples were collected from all characteristic elements of each room of the specified scope. During the collection phase, circular crater exposures were made to assure that the extracted samples include all paint layers. Samples were extracted with scalpels, X-acto knives, and diamond tipped Dremel tools.
2. Exposures (woodwork):
The exposures of early finishes were not possible because the woodwork was aggressively stripped of all early paint finishes during the renovations of 1921-1929. The best samples of woodwork were preserved under the escutcheon plates of the doors. Samples were collected from under these escutcheons, which provided the best cross sections. Small exposures were made on site of the locations under the escutcheons.
A large exposure of the pilaster base fascia in Room 103 was made; one of the few surfaces with the early paint finishes surviving.
3. Plaster Walls and Ceilings
The presence of wallpaper
Wallpaper became immensely popular in the nineteenth century and by the 1850s papers would have been available throughout the United States. Papers afforded not only color, but also pattern, and papers existed at all cost levels. The examination of the wall surfaces considered the presence of adhesives that may indicate the use of wallpapers. Enzyme Fluorescent examination was conducted on four samples for adhesive characterization.
Laboratory Examination
4. Stereoscopic and Polarized-light Microscopy, and Microchemistry:
All samples were examined in cross section and obliquely. Many of the samples have been mounted for thin cross sections and polishing. Polishing is done to 8000 micron polishing grit. These samples are mounted in Bio-plastic polymer resin. The samples are ground and polished for examination using top lighting and ultraviolet lighting. The samples will also be subject to spot testing for lead components, with the results to be photomicrographed. The photomicrographs are the basis for the study of relative number of paint layers, providing archaeological information that can assist in determining the period finish. Additional pigment identification was done using polarized light microscopy. Pigments of interest will be extracted using a tungsten needle and will be mounted for examination using the Olympus BMAX-50 polarized light microscope. The identification of the pigments will follow the system of particle identification from the McCrone Research Institute of Chicago. Examination of the finishes will include the use of shortwave ultraviolet light to reduce the yellowing of the oil binders under controlled conditions.
5. Color matching is done under controlled fiber optics illumination using the Olympus SZ-1145 stereomicroscope, and daylight filtering. The preferred color standards are from the Munsell Color System, however, in view of the wide gaps between Munsell Standards, color standards from the Plochere Color System as well as those from proprietary paint companies may be used. If necessary, special color standards, which are prepared in the laboratory, may be used. Additionally, color matching is checked with the GTI Color Matcher MM 2 light booth, using the three spectrally dissimilar light sources.
All color standards other than the Munsell Color Standards will be read by the X-rite SP62 Sphere Spectrophotometer to provide CIE Lab coordinates, Hunter-Lab coordinates and a Munsell Color Conversion Number. The CIE Lab coordinates provide a tripartite written identification system, making it possible to assign a written equivalent for any color. This is very important for the record, as it is possible to reconstruct the color from the coordinates in the distant future.
6. Photomicrographs:
A very important means of recording chromochronological data is photomicrography: photographs taken through the microscope of particularly informative samples. This allows for clear indications of the conditions seen under the microscope, and how the recommendations were achieved. The report includes photomicrographs that are annotated with information in the report. It is anticipated that this study will include many photomicrographs of mounted samples that will provide clear information that indicates the number of paint layers. In addition, some photomicrographs of unmounted samples may also provide significant information on the finishes of interest.
7. Report preparation:
The report brings together all the aforementioned material in a comprehensible manner and will focus on the original finishes of each of the rooms of the Verandah House. The report includes the data on the samples, locations of specific samples, color standards and any other pertinent information, such as that from known documents. Photomicrographs will be the basis of the report.
The report is provided in digital form, delivered by Hightail and one copy in hard copy will be sent to the site. The hard copy only will have the actual color standards: the color standards may be altered in any transition to a digital version.
Center Hall
Library
Dining Room
South Parlor
Bedroom
On site work: Collection of Samples and Exposure of earlier finishes.
1. Collection of Samples:
Samples were collected from all characteristic elements of each room of the specified scope. During the collection phase, circular crater exposures were made to assure that the extracted samples include all paint layers. Samples were extracted with scalpels, X-acto knives, and diamond tipped Dremel tools.
2. Exposures (woodwork):
The exposures of early finishes were not possible because the woodwork was aggressively stripped of all early paint finishes during the renovations of 1921-1929. The best samples of woodwork were preserved under the escutcheon plates of the doors. Samples were collected from under these escutcheons, which provided the best cross sections. Small exposures were made on site of the locations under the escutcheons.
A large exposure of the pilaster base fascia in Room 103 was made; one of the few surfaces with the early paint finishes surviving.
3. Plaster Walls and Ceilings
The presence of wallpaper
Wallpaper became immensely popular in the nineteenth century and by the 1850s papers would have been available throughout the United States. Papers afforded not only color, but also pattern, and papers existed at all cost levels. The examination of the wall surfaces considered the presence of adhesives that may indicate the use of wallpapers. Enzyme Fluorescent examination was conducted on four samples for adhesive characterization.
Laboratory Examination
4. Stereoscopic and Polarized-light Microscopy, and Microchemistry:
All samples were examined in cross section and obliquely. Many of the samples have been mounted for thin cross sections and polishing. Polishing is done to 8000 micron polishing grit. These samples are mounted in Bio-plastic polymer resin. The samples are ground and polished for examination using top lighting and ultraviolet lighting. The samples will also be subject to spot testing for lead components, with the results to be photomicrographed. The photomicrographs are the basis for the study of relative number of paint layers, providing archaeological information that can assist in determining the period finish. Additional pigment identification was done using polarized light microscopy. Pigments of interest will be extracted using a tungsten needle and will be mounted for examination using the Olympus BMAX-50 polarized light microscope. The identification of the pigments will follow the system of particle identification from the McCrone Research Institute of Chicago. Examination of the finishes will include the use of shortwave ultraviolet light to reduce the yellowing of the oil binders under controlled conditions.
5. Color matching is done under controlled fiber optics illumination using the Olympus SZ-1145 stereomicroscope, and daylight filtering. The preferred color standards are from the Munsell Color System, however, in view of the wide gaps between Munsell Standards, color standards from the Plochere Color System as well as those from proprietary paint companies may be used. If necessary, special color standards, which are prepared in the laboratory, may be used. Additionally, color matching is checked with the GTI Color Matcher MM 2 light booth, using the three spectrally dissimilar light sources.
All color standards other than the Munsell Color Standards will be read by the X-rite SP62 Sphere Spectrophotometer to provide CIE Lab coordinates, Hunter-Lab coordinates and a Munsell Color Conversion Number. The CIE Lab coordinates provide a tripartite written identification system, making it possible to assign a written equivalent for any color. This is very important for the record, as it is possible to reconstruct the color from the coordinates in the distant future.
6. Photomicrographs:
A very important means of recording chromochronological data is photomicrography: photographs taken through the microscope of particularly informative samples. This allows for clear indications of the conditions seen under the microscope, and how the recommendations were achieved. The report includes photomicrographs that are annotated with information in the report. It is anticipated that this study will include many photomicrographs of mounted samples that will provide clear information that indicates the number of paint layers. In addition, some photomicrographs of unmounted samples may also provide significant information on the finishes of interest.
7. Report preparation:
The report brings together all the aforementioned material in a comprehensible manner and will focus on the original finishes of each of the rooms of the Verandah House. The report includes the data on the samples, locations of specific samples, color standards and any other pertinent information, such as that from known documents. Photomicrographs will be the basis of the report.
The report is provided in digital form, delivered by Hightail and one copy in hard copy will be sent to the site. The hard copy only will have the actual color standards: the color standards may be altered in any transition to a digital version.