The history of paint

From the paintings on early caves, to the use of red dye by the Aztec Indians, people have always sought to enhance their surroundings with the use of vibrant colours.  Where the early cave people recorded their lives with paint on the walls of their caves, paint manufacturers used it to beautify, protect and extend the life of their goods.

The Egyptians, the Chinese and the Aztec Indians all practised colour healing, and the Greeks and Romans developed coloured varnishes.

From the 16th until the 19th centuries in America, milk paint was used to paint furniture. Milk paint recipes were closely guarded, but milk and lime were mixed with pigment to make a smooth and durable water-based formula.  Milk paint allowed houses and furniture to be painted in soft velvety and rich colours.

The problem that existed with using this paint is that it could not be commercially manufactured because of the milk content.  In 1868, at the end of the American civil war, the first patent for a metal paint tin with tightly fitting lid was issued.  Now, paint could be manufactured in huge quantities, and distributed to towns and cities everywhere.

This invention heralded the beginning of the commercial use of oil-based paints.  The problem with oil-based paints however, was that they contained lead, mildewcides, and other poisonous additives.

In 1935, a new water-based casein paint was developed.  Known as Kem-Tone and made from synthetic rubber and styrene’s, it was the first latex paint. Although it was made from synthetic latex and styrene’s, it didn’t contain lead, and it met with huge commercial success.

There has been a concerted effort to sand and repaint furniture which had previously been painted with lead paint.  Cots which had been painted with lead paint were of particular concern because babies often chewed on cot bars.

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Paint has some obvious, and some much less obvious uses.  It is used to paint cars, to protect houses from the elements; even to paint the inside of food containers.
Throughout the ages, paint has enabled people to vividly capture the beauty and essence of their lives, and to record their surroundings as in the famous paintings of the first world war.  Now, paint is used not only to protect houses from harsh weather conditions, but also to transform houses from dour to modern and vibrant.

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