The Ancient Monuments Laboratory

Architectural paint research

The potential of the unit in clarifying the structural and decorative history of architectural elements has been fully demonstrated by several of the projects undertaken this year. At Cogges Manor, Witney, paint research established the alterations made to a seventeenth- century wing of the thirteenth-century building. The existing joinery in one of the smaller rooms, which had been heavily overpainted, bore the same painted trompe l'oeil grained panelling scheme still visible on the upper plaster wallfaces; beneath the later overpaint was a complete seventeenth-century decorative scheme. In view of the rarity of surviving schemes from this period, the decision was made to remove the later overpaint and reclaim the complete decorative scheme. The room now presents an unique example of a seventeenth-century decorated closet. This discovery has led to fuller understanding of the status of this and adjoining rooms, as well as of the functioning of the manor house in the seventeenth century.

The unit continues to provide advice and assistance on the recreation of historic schemes. The results of extensive research carried out in the Entrance Hall of Kenwood House to establish the Adam paint scheme are now being implemented. Documentary and technical evidence confirm that the room was originally ornately decorated in greens and purples. This scheme is to be recreated using traditional lead paint and authentic pigmentation. Exact matching of the original colours has involved the special production of the pigment Blue Verditer which was used to produce the original green on the ceiling. This was a common decorators' pigment in the eighteenth century but is now obsolete.

These recent case studies are being added to the paint research database. It is hoped that this extensive archive, which holds the product of the research carried out by the unit over the past 15 years, will become available to external users and become an important resource in architectural conservation.