“Ming green — what color is that?” a reader recently asked. Pam had a few examples of this jadeite color in her vintage American Standard catalogs, and she sent Kate to hunt down more. So she headed to a favorite resource, archive.org — and found many more examples of this delicious color from Kohler, Crane, Briggs and Montgomery Ward. Get your eyeballs ready, because Ming Green by any other name — and there are quite a few! — would look as sweet!
Ming Green — American-Standard
All of this research started with the debate in the comments section of one of our stories about Ming Green versus Mint Green. In story about Dana’s Ming Green bathroom, Sarah said: “I did a web search for ming green, thinking it must be some amazing retro bathroom decor that I have never heard of and came up empty. You mean mint green, right?”
Nope, Dana: “Ming Green” is American-Standard’s version of a prewar jadeite color.
Above: The image of the Ming Green steel kitchen cabinets, with Ming Green drainboard sink, is from Pam’s 1938 American-Standard catalog.
Kate was able to American-Standard catalogs featuring Ming Green fixtures spanning the years 1930 to 1962. Golly, that’s a long time for a color to remain in a manufacturer’s portfolio. So: We will crown American-Standard empress of this green dynasty!
Above: 1930 American-Standard Ming Green sink, tub and toilet from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
Three images above from: 1950 American-Standard catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org showing Ming Green bathroom fixtures.
Three images above: 1962 American-Standard catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org showing Ming Green fixtures. What a versatile color!
Above: DEA Bath matched their replacement toilet bolt caps to American-Standard’s Ming Green.
Kohler — Spring Green to Spruce Green
Kate found the earliest reference to this jadeite shade of green in a 1928 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org. It shows Kohler’s “Imperiator” tub, pedestal sink and toilet in “Spring Green.”
Above: A Spring Green “Mayfair” bathroom in a 1929 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
Above: We see Kohler’s Spring Green in this 1936 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
Above: In this 1948 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org, we see the whole palette for the year: Tuscan, Spring Green, Peachblow, Cerulean Blue, Ivory, Lavender, Autumn Brown, and Rouge. Yum.
Above: In 1949, it looks like Kohler changed their green to Spruce Green, as shown in this 1949 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org. What a daring color combination — blue-green, violet and muddy chartreuse — by today’s standards! We love it!
Above: In this 1950 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org, Spruce Green again.
Pale Jade — Crane
Above: This 1940 Crane catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org shows their green as “Pale Jade.”
Above: Here’s another 1940 Crane catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org also showing Pale Jade.
P.S. Pam covets that toilet seat. It is The. Best.
Sea Green — Briggs
Two images above: A 1951 Briggs Beautyware catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org. Briggs made “Sea Green.”
The two images above show more Sea Green; 1950s Briggs Beautyware catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
Sea Green — Montgomery Ward
Above: And finally, Monty Ward’s “Sea Green” may been a little more yellow; 1955 Montgomery Ward catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
Go Green:
Do you want to build a Ming Green bathroom from scratch? With her bathroom remodel, Laura shows us how B&W Tile’s #40W-Green wall tile and #40F-Green floor tile do the trick. GORGEOUS!
Another reader showin’ us how it’s done: Jane built-from-scratch bathroom again reminds us how lovely a soft green can look paired with pink. This green tile is B&W’s #43W- Kiwi Green, a bit richer than jadeite; the pink is B&W’s #70W-Pink.
So there you have it: From 1928 to 1962, your particular shade of vintage green could be Ming Green, Pale Jade, Spring Green, Spruce Green or Sea Green, depending on the brand. Bet everyone is now, yes, here it comes: Green with envy!
The post The color green in kitchen and bathroom sinks, tubs and toilets — from 1928 to 1962 appeared first on Retro Renovation.
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