My mom and I got into a discusstion about how paint was dyed red back in the 1800's.?

Question

She says Martha Stewart claimed they used animal blood. Stewart also said they 'cooked' they blood so the animals wouldn't come. I think Stewart is a minon of Satan so I can see her using animal blood on her house.

Answer 1

19th century The real watershed in the search for a strong, light-fast yellow came with the discovery of water-resistant Chrome Yellow in 1818. Heating it produced 'Chinese Red' - the basis of Pillar Box Red. Mixtures of Prussian Blue and Chrome Yellow produced the well-known 'Brunswick Greens'. 'Cerulean', an aquamarine blue, and Gmelin's manmade ultramarine were discovered between 1821 and 1840, as was Alazarin Crimson.

Answer 2

they usually crushed bugs up to make a red dye. Also used various plants that would seep red coloring if crushed. Then the mess was strained so it was smoother. Don't forget, back in the day, they also used milk on walls, certain kinds of clay, all kinds of different things to make color. No blood though. Blood of any sort congeals, which means it changes color and darkens when it dries. So...even animal blood wouldn't give you blood red walls.

Answer 3

I have never heard of that. most pigments (the stuff used to make paint different colors) come from the earth. they used, and in some cases, still use natual pigments. this includes titanium dioxide, which is white pigment. most pigments in colonial times were shipped from europe, which is why expensive houses had lots of different colors, and less expensive houses would have been painted white. there is a lot of info on paint/history of paint, if you want to do the research.
as far as martha, yes, she is evil, Pure Evil. i don't think she would waste animal blood on her house, i think she would drink eat.

Answer 4

plants and berries, sand, rocks and natural coloring -- ground & mashed & mixed. There's colors named after the towns they originated (sienna) this way... etc. The blood talk is nonsense, and although Martha is a NJ broad basically, she should know better than that, and doubt she said it.

Answer 5

I know they used oxidized iron (rust) to tint paint for barns many moons ago. I think Martha spent too many days with inmates on this one.

Answer 6

Sharan is right about the ground bugs...something like cochineal...(cooked blood turns almost black)...pioneers did sometimes use raw animal blood on their dirt floors, in their sod houses...it sealed them & made them almost like tile..