Casein based paint

Rebecca A. Rushfield <wittert [at] juno__com> writes

>I received a request for sources of information on the early use of
>casein based paint on buildings in England and continental Europe.

I suggest perusing "Paint in America: The Colors of Historic
Buildings," edited by Roger W. Moss (Washington, DC: National Trust
for Historic Preservation, 1994). Milk and casein paints are
referred to a few times in this scholarly book, and they are
explored in depth by Morgan W. Phillips in a six-page section of his
article (pp. 231-255), "A Survey of Paint Technology: the
Composition and Properties of Paints." Phillips' discussion of
casein paints that were made and used in XIX century America
includes references to formulas that were developed in France in
late XVIII century and published in England. At the end of his
article Phillips states, "Altogether, the history of milk and casein
paints, as applied not only to architecture but also to furniture
and other objects, is a subject that deserves much more attention by
historians and paint analysts."

Jean D. Portell


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 17:27
                Distributed: Thursday, September 4, 2003
                       Message Id: cdl-17-27-002
                                  ***