Old enameled plate bearing the inscription "VERT A LA CHAUX" (Lime Green), from a set of enameled plates that equipped the drawers of an old paint merchant's cabinet. "Vert à la Chaux" designated a green color intended notably for paints, washes, and lime-based preparations. Paint merchants supplied pigments, colors, and various raw materials to painters, decorators, and artisans; their drawer cabinets allowed these numerous powders and preparations to be stored separately, each compartment being identified by a plate like this one.
✦ Estimated period: Circa 1900-1920 ✦ Origin: France, former paint merchant ✦ Dimensions: approx. 13 × 3 cm ✦ Material: Enameled plate ✦ Condition: Good used condition, with enamel chips, traces of oxidation, scratches, and wear due to age.
Old enameled plate "Vert à la Chaux", an authentic accessory from a paint merchant's cabinet and an interesting testimony to the pigment trade in the early 20th century.
