Delightful Discoveries - Pick Your Poison 082510

Verdigris... my hubby actually accused me of making up the word! Sounds a bit mysterious, definitely foreign. The word verdigris comes from the French phrase verte de Grece or "green of Greece" based on the practice of purposefully creating this patina which is believed to have originated in the Greek isles. Prior to the 19th century, verdigris was the most brilliant green pigment available for dyes and paints. It's basically a form of corrosion formed when copper is exposed to a combination of air, water, and acetic acid (vinegar). Unfortunately, it's also poisonous, causing severe gastrointestinal distress as well as other severe toxic effects when ingested, inhaled, or handled without proper precautions. The chemical reaction that causes verdigris is similar to that of cooking acidic foods in copper pots - and now you know why they always tell you not to!

One of the most familiar examples of this finish is on the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island in New York Harbor here in the US.

Sealed verdigris or faux verdigris patinas can be quite beautiful and completely safe, but be sure to ask how the finish was attained and if it is sealed when you're considering buying something metal with a vertigris coloring or any item that uses a real verdigris pigment. That being said, let's take a peek at some wonderful examples of this naturally occurring or artificially applied bluish green pigment.






(l-r, Top to Bottom)

Verdigris Anchor Doorbell from modelmaker2
TRee from dreamspirit
14 Gauge Verdigris Blade Hoop Earrings - Copper And Sterling Silver from suntribedesigns
Handmade Journal Verdigris Music Refillable 9x7 OOAK Original from ElisCooke
Dragonfly Jar from meadowpoint
Folded Flow Vase in Verdigris from mjfcoach2u**
Vintage 1964 Japanese Children Statue, Universal Statuary Chicago from FlamingJuneVintage
Church Dome - Prague - 4 x 6 fine art photograph from photohale
VINTAGE VERDIGRIS ISRAEL COVERD BOWL OR BOX from precambrianman
FLEUR DE LIS - Verdigris Pendant from EtherealCreation
Verdigris Dragonfly Necklace - Steampunk from mcstoneworks
Vintage copper verdigris wind chimes from ZenHen

Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you'll come back tomorrow when my theme is dogs! I've got a couple really great items depicting dogs picked out already, but I'd love to see you puppies as well! So send them on over by clicking here!

Happy Hump Day to everyone out there!


** (this is my new designation for an undiscovered/underdiscovered shop of the day!)