A PAIR OF GEORGE III GREEN AND RED-PAINTED OPEN BOOK-SHELVES ON STANDS

A paint analysis undertaken by Catherine Hassall of University College London revealed that these open shelves have been painted three times. They were originally yellow and red-decorated over a layer of brownish black shellac, likely to have been applied as a sealing coat for the paint. The pigments used indicate that this was done around the turn of the 19th century. This scheme was repeated in the 19th century and was then in place until just after the Second World War, when the current scheme of green and red was added using titanium dioxide white, which was only in use since circa 1950. The pigment used to create the yellow would have discoloured over time, which probably explains why the shelves were re-painted with the present green, rather than the bright yellow they would have been originally.