Wallpaper Case Study 2:

Verdmont (early 18th century) in Smith's Parish, Bermuda

This tiny fragment of historic wallpaper exhibits a very dirty surface, originally painted yellow. The paper and distemper paint were sampled for PLM analysis to determine fiber and pigment composition.

The wallpaper is made with flax fibers alone, characterized by the "X" and "V" transverse markings (arrows).

Chrome yellow pigment particles coat a flax fiber from the wallpaper fragment. The needle or rod shape of the particles (arrows) is characteristic of chrome yellow, a pigment not commercially available before 1812.