08.10.05
l After more than 20 years spent studying paint that was used in George Washington’s Mount Vernon mansion, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association has granted the exclusive rights to Duron Paints & Wallcoverings to create a new historical line of paint based on the property.
The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, the oldest national historic preservation organization in the U.S., has continuously owned and operated Mount Vernon since 1858. It is under the trusteeship of the association that Mount Vernon has been authentically restored to its original appearance.
In the 1980s, the association commissioned a scientific study of the centuries-old paint that covers the mansion’s interior. In some rooms, experts had to work their way through up to 26 layers of paint to reach the original hues selected by President Washington.
“Our scientific discoveries, in combination with what we know from George Washington’s many diaries and letters, reveal a more colorful and vibrant Mount Vernon than we imagined,” said Dennis Pogue, associate director for preservation “Though our search for authenticity is never-ending, we believe now we can offer the public the opportunity to purchase authentic Mount Vernon estate colors for their own homes.”
The palette, named Estate of Colours, includes nearly 30 colors exactly as they appear in the mansion and 90 more inspired by the 500-acre plantation and period artifacts.
“Duron is privileged to hold this exclusive licensing agreement to create the Estate of Colours palette for the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association,” said Gary Saiter, Duron’s director of marketing and e-commerce. “We’ve been in business for more than 50 years near Mount Vernon, and have been involved in many historic projects, including manufacturing paint especially for the White House.”
The licensing agreement calls for Duron to produce the historic collection under the Mount Vernon label for sale in select company-owned Duron Paints & Wallcoverings stores and independent dealer outlets in the mid-Atlantic region. Distribution of Estate of Colours will begin this fall.
Duron joins other Mount Vernon licensees, Hickory Chair Company, Wildwood Lamps, Brunschwig & Fils and York Wallcoverings.
The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, the oldest national historic preservation organization in the U.S., has continuously owned and operated Mount Vernon since 1858. It is under the trusteeship of the association that Mount Vernon has been authentically restored to its original appearance.
In the 1980s, the association commissioned a scientific study of the centuries-old paint that covers the mansion’s interior. In some rooms, experts had to work their way through up to 26 layers of paint to reach the original hues selected by President Washington.
“Our scientific discoveries, in combination with what we know from George Washington’s many diaries and letters, reveal a more colorful and vibrant Mount Vernon than we imagined,” said Dennis Pogue, associate director for preservation “Though our search for authenticity is never-ending, we believe now we can offer the public the opportunity to purchase authentic Mount Vernon estate colors for their own homes.”
The palette, named Estate of Colours, includes nearly 30 colors exactly as they appear in the mansion and 90 more inspired by the 500-acre plantation and period artifacts.
“Duron is privileged to hold this exclusive licensing agreement to create the Estate of Colours palette for the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association,” said Gary Saiter, Duron’s director of marketing and e-commerce. “We’ve been in business for more than 50 years near Mount Vernon, and have been involved in many historic projects, including manufacturing paint especially for the White House.”
The licensing agreement calls for Duron to produce the historic collection under the Mount Vernon label for sale in select company-owned Duron Paints & Wallcoverings stores and independent dealer outlets in the mid-Atlantic region. Distribution of Estate of Colours will begin this fall.
Duron joins other Mount Vernon licensees, Hickory Chair Company, Wildwood Lamps, Brunschwig & Fils and York Wallcoverings.