Replies

1. 
   UncleDunc | Mar 27, 2005 08:06am | #1

   http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=japanned+asphaltum

2. 
   hammer1 | Mar 27, 2005 08:16am | #2

   You spelled it correctly in your post. Sometimes it refers to different processes. As I understand it, the original japanning was a paint mixture of linseed oil, asphaltum, gum of anim and turpentine. It's actually a dark brown. A coat was applied and baked in an oven, then another and another. Eventually the color appears black. It was a surface decoration that often included some gold details. Items decorated this way became popular imports to Europe somewhere around the 17th century. They may not have actually been Japanese but that was the name given to them. Lacquer work is also sometimes called japanning. Many woodworkers know it as the black paint that is on metal planes. I believe it was done as I described originally. More modern versions may be enamel.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

3. 
   IanDG | Mar 27, 2005 08:34am | #3

   It also describes the Victorian era finish that was applied to the border of a pine floor around a center rug.

   The timber was primed with creosote and the finish was a mixture of coal tar and shellac.

   IanDG

4. 
   Steinmetz | Mar 27, 2005 09:24am | #4

   Wanna,
   Up until the 1940's,builders hardware(locks and hinges etc)
   came in plain cast iron ; usually very ornate.
   These were later sold 'wrought' and made from steel plate or brass.

   Early 1900's brought plating, Chrome/nickel/brass/bronze.

   Someone (A plater?) messed up some copper plating
   which came out of the bath as a mottled
   copper and oiled black finish.

   To me, that was a turning point in quality
   of American hardware.
   In order to unload the product on the trusting public,
   advertisers touted "Modern Japan finish"
   (Or, 'jappaned')

   Happily, most were installed in lower priced homes
   and were quickly painted over.

   Occasionally, one or two jappaned hinges
   or lock escutcheon plates and knobs
   show up at flea markets to a mixed coterie of
   collectors/snobs/and the unwashed.

   (The latter will paint them pale blue and the former
   will make 'collages' of them and hang them up next to their Macrame hung earthenware fern pots.

   Steinmetz.

   
   

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   Edited 3/27/2005 2:30 am ET by steinmetz