The History of Milk Paint
Milk paint dates back to the era of ancient cave paintings, and was found on decorations inside King Tut's tomb. The paint was commonly used to aid creative self-expression, as well as a protective coating on furniture and porous surfaces. Scientists estimate milk paint was used over 20,000 years ago to decorate artifacts and tools. Milk paint is considered simple to make, with the primary components being milk, lime and earthen pigments found in clay. Does this Spark an idea?
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Milk Paint Recipes Used in Ancient Times
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Milk paint was used in all geographic areas of the ancient world, due to its simple recipe and availability of the ingredients. People of different geographic areas and time periods experimented with the simple milk paint recipe to create more colors and increase the decorative longevity of painted objects. Casein, a protein found in milk, remained the primary ingredient for all milk paint recipes. Ingredients, which were often added to the milk paint formula, each with varying results, included olive oil, eggs, wax, linseed oil and glue made from animal hides. Cave walls and ceiling art decorated with milk paint over 2,000 years ago are still intact and vibrant today.
Olive Oil and Milk Paint Recipes
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Flemish artisans experimented with olive oil during the late 15th century. The addition of olive oil to a milk paint recipe created problems with drying time and running paint. Artist Jan van Eyck developed a protective varnish using milk paint and oil, which many artists used in their work. The primary milk paint recipe went unchanged until the 1700s.
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Milk Paint in Colonial Times
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Artists in colonial America packed paint pigments and a lime with them as they explored the new land in search of inspiration. Once an artist discovered a setting or object to paint, they would buy milk from a local farm to mix their paint. Furniture makers from the same time period also used milk paint in soft pastel colors in their designs.
Milke Paint in the Civil War Era
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During the Civil War period, a patent was given for a metal can with a firmly attached top for paints. This invention began the commercialization of paint making. Paint could now be made quickly in large quantities for shipping around the country. The manufactured paint was oil based, causing a decrease in the use of milk paint. The protein in the milk would spoil if stored in the metal containers, and was not a viable option for mass production. The casein milk protein was sometimes mixed with chemicals and could be stored for longer period of times, but was not considered true milk paint. Chemicals such as ammonia and borax were used in the commercially produced oil-based paint with a small level of milk protein added to the mixture.
Milk Paint and Modern Times
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Chemists discovered during World War II that the lead and mercury found in many paint mixtures were dangerous to humans. This discovery led paint companies to reconfigure oil-based paint recipes. Growing public demand for preserving the environment and reducing toxins prompted a change in the way many products were produced and packaged. Laws were passed to eliminate the use of lead and mercury in paint. In 1974, the Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company was formed to create an earth and human friendly alternative to toxins in commercial paint. The traditional style of milk paint is produced as a "green" alternative to commercial paint. The paint will spoil, but is completely free of chemicals. Modern artists still mix the simple milk paint recipe and brush the mixture on a multitude of surfaces to create vivid displays and nature scenes.
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