Pontypool japan

In the late 17th century, during his search for a corrosion-resistant coating for iron, he developed a recipe that included asphaltum, linseed oil and burnt umber.

Once applied to metal and heated the coating turned black and was extremely tough and durable.

Pontypool is in a steep valley in South Wales, surrounded by coal and iron working.

Coffee pots, tea sets, candle sticks and other household items could all be japanned and decorated in the popular fashion.

In his book on Pontypool japan (W. D. John, 1953),[2] published one of the recipes the workmen had handed down through generations: The linseed oil was heated together with the umber and the asphaltum while the litharge and cobalt were added slowly.

[2] In modern tests, this varnish worked equally well on papier mâché and metal plates.

[5] In that version, linseed oil is boiled together with gum animi, asphaltum, litharge and umber in approximately the same proportions as the Pontypool recipe.