I have refubished my grandfather’s old Grumann apothecary. It is certainly not considered fine furniture by any stretch of the imagination, but there is tremendous sentimental value to me. It was originaly painted gray which I stripped down to the bare plywood. I would like to paint it Chinese red, but I don’t know where to go to get the right paint. Does anyone know where I can purchase “Chinese red” paint? Concerning the actual color, my Chinese friend told me the redder the better — whatever that means.
Thanks for your help.
Todd
Replies
I know exactly the color you're talking about, but no definite source. A couple of suggestions:
I did a Google search, and amongs the misses, there are several hits:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=paint+Chinese+red
Try Homestead finishing: http://www.homesteadfinishing.com
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Try your local Sherwin-Williams, I have a quart of S-W Chinese Red Enamel in my paint locker.....
Dano
Sherwin Williams and any other paint store in your area will have no trouble mixing the paint for you and will give good advice on the type of paint to use and the best way(s) to apply it.
Paul
F'burg, VA
Yes, but do these different paint companies know what Chinese red is. I know they can mix paint and match it to a color sample, but do they have a standard Chinese red that I can go up the the counter and ask for a pint of their finest Chinese red. I already did this at Home Depot and they know what color I'm talking about, but of all the reds that they have, they don't know which one is "Chinese red".
Tartanpaint,
As I indicated earlier; I have a can of Sherwin-Williams Chinese Red Enamel in my paint locker. This was not custom mixed, bought right off the shelf....And yes it is "real" Chinese Red. Since Chinese Red is an actual color, I would suspect that most paint manufacturers can be relied upon to be accurate.....FWIW.
Dano"Form and Function are One" - Frank L. Wright
The Chinese red I'm most familar with (from Shinto shrines and such) is cinnabar; it has a bit of yellow in it that deepens the color to a slightly orangish tinge. This is a homemade cinnabar I made by adding a bit of yellow to a bright red. It's painted over black and rubbed back (antiqued), so it doesn't appear a pure cinnabar.
View Image
Green Gables: A Contemplative Companion to Fujino Township
If you can find one of those 'special occasion' red and gold envelopes the Chinese use for gifts of money you could have the red colour-matched. That would certainly be a Chinese Red, and probably a similar technique to the one paint companies use to arrive at their version of Chinese Red.
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