Historic Paint Finishes Report: The Original Finishes of the Verandah House, Corinth, Mississippi
Room 104: Dining Room
This room has been altered during the renovations of 1921-1929 and later. The entablature and the dado (seen below) are features that were added in the 1921-1929 renovations. Earlier finishes were observed underneath, and may be observed in locations where the canvas has been removed. The heavy hide glue application for the canvas has altered the appearance of the remaining paint finishes that remained underneath.
The lower walls were covered with canvas in the renovation period and then the moldings that form the panels and chair rail were installed. This is a typical system from the early twentieth century. The canvas installation preserved the earlier finishes underneath.
Room 104: Detail of remaining finishes under the 1921-1929 canvas
Note: The canvas was installed at the time of the renovations in 1921-1929. Removing some of the canvas showed there were two paint finishes underneath. The initial finish is a light 2Tay, probably from the original decoration in 1857. This was followed by a rich blue (prepared with Prussian blue pigment) in distemper finish. It is likely that there was a third treatment that was washed off, or removed prior to the renovations of 1921-1929. The sequence on the walls may be as follows:
- Light gray distemper Finish, ca. 1857 (?)
- Blue distemper Finish ca. 1875
- Wallpaper or paint finish (removed) Finish, Huggins period (1878-1921)
- Installation of the dado, 1921-1929