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19th century French Gold paint set

French Gold paint set

Paint set; 19th century; paper board box, gold powder, liquid medium; Bequest of Judge John Webb Green and Ellen McClung; 1957.3.116.5

This French gold paint set was used for ornamental gilding and decorative purposes. It contains bottles of liquid paint medium and gold powder, a mixing tray, paintbrush, pen nib, and an instruction sheet. The pen nib is probably not original to the set. French gold paint was meant to be used as a substitute for traditional gold leafing. When the gold powder (small bottle) and liquid medium (large bottle) are mixed, a brilliant gold paint is created as seen on the surfaces of the mixing tray. The set was made by J. Marsching and Company, a New York based pigment importer and manufacturer started in 1867. According to the Druggists’ Ready Reference, this set retailed for $0.50 in 1887.