Historic Paint Finishes Report: The Original Finishes of the Verandah House, Corinth, Mississippi
Room 103: The South Parlor
This room is the most elaborate room in the Verandah House. This space is highly articulated, with pilasters and breaks in the wall plane as may be seen in the photograph below. Most notable is the elaborate plaster entablature, and a very beautiful ceiling medallion in the center of the room. As in the case of the other rooms, the mantel in this room was installed during the renovations of 1921-1929.
Less paint removal was conducted in this room. It was possible to uncover the original finish of the baseboard in this room: it showed the initial finish was the white lead enamel finish.
Ceiling Medallion
Condition of the Plaster
Note: The Verandah House was unheated for a considerable period of time during which the changes in temperature lead to cupping and cracking of the accumulated paint finishes. This has created a condition that should not be overpainted, but requires that the plaster be relieved of the cracking, delaminating paint.
In many locations, the accumulated paint delaminates at the plaster finish surface, which leaves a clean surface for repainting, however, in many locations, the delamination fracture is in the plaster: the smooth plaster surface breaks off with the accumulated paint, leaving a rough surface behind. The rough surface will have to be repaired before the plaster can be repainted.