Historic Paint Finishes Report: The Original Finishes of the Verandah House, Corinth, Mississippi

Hall Entablature:

Illustration with location of Collected paint samples noted:

Examination of Samples:

Samples:

Ceiling, Entablature, Locations 1-10.

Ceiling Medallions, all locations:

 

Substrate: White plaster

 

First finish:

 

  1. Clear coating: thin size (water soluble hide glue in solution) Preparatory layer
  2. White Benjamin Moore OC-61 whiting distemper Finish F-1

 

Second finish:

Light gray: emulsion paint: ca. 1875 redecoration                             Second finish F-2

On site: Detail photograph:

Note: This is a detail view of a center medallion in the Hall 100, with the delaminating overpaint removed. The early finishes are damaged, but the first fmish (white distemper) is clearly seen and followed by the gray emulsion paint, which is the second finish.

Photomicrograph: Ceiling Medallion: First finish

Unmounted sample.

Note: The view of this sample is looking down onto the finish surface of the sample. The later paint layers have been removed to permit this view. A small section of the sample substrate is seen at the top of the sample, and is noted. The first finish is the water-soluble distemper finish, which shows the characteristic porous condition (A): the “holes” are left by the evaporation of the water vehicle.

Return to Table of Contents