“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, Eljer 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 find 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
A few years ago, Pam wrote about the very first year — 1927 — that Kohler offered its bathroom fixtures in colors besides white. “Spring Green” was part of their historic first color palette.
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.
According to Kohler’s excellent color timeline, Spruce Green continued to be in production until 1972.
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.
Pastel Green, Victoria Green — Eljer
Pam spotted this Eljer catalog from 1939 from the MBJ collection on archive.org that shows Eljer offered two greens — Pastel Green and Victoria Green in their color line up.
Alliance Ware — Green
Pam found this ad for Alliance Ware porcelain enameled bathroom fixtures that includes ‘Green’ in a 1950s Small Homes Guide.
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.
- And see this story: 11 ideas to decorate a pink and green bathroom
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!
Marcia says
never mind about the Niedecken mixer: I found it here — https://books.google.com/books?id=K9c7AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA1327&lpg=PA1327&dq=niedecken+mixer&source=bl&ots=VOpgpVS7Zk&sig=kO7_wc4chF5lhCPHbRdpO0ZFFhQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CFMQ6AEwDGoVChMI6tuo4YuVyQIVGMBjCh3-fQWV#v=onepage&q=niedecken%20mixer&f=false
Sara says
I am wiping the drool off my desk! Gorgeous. Absolutely love all the pictures. Someday I will have a bathroom as beautiful as these. Great post!
Marcia says
Thank you ladies, for the research and the lovely illustrations. One of the little things I noticed was the ingenuity in the placement of shelves – for plants, for knick knacks, and even next to the toilet in one case. Does anyone know anything about Kohler’s “Niedecken mixer” and “secret drain” ?
Jen says
I’m guessing that right around 1962, we get “avocado” green. Could be fun to trace the evolution of particular colors through the years. Loved this feature!
Bette Jean says
My favorite is Kohler Plate KB. Spring green with rich gold, navy and turquoise. I’m in love, no really I’m in lust!
Kathy says
I love that one too!
I’ve been thinking of doing something like this for my tiny bathroom with the modern brownish 6″ porcelain tile floors, but alas, probably not with a green tub (can’t support the weight of cast iron even if I could find one) and fixtures, but with the wall tile and built-ins. Love that late Arts and Crafts/Art Deco look, and the warm tones of the buff/brown tiles really warms up the green.
Carol says
Bette Jean, Did you notice the tub fixtures are stacked vertically instead of horizontally? That bathtub is the tub of my dreams. My favorite is the KB-2. Oh my, the eye candy. My Great Grandmother had a full tile ming green and black bathroom, and as a child I thought it was the happiest room in the house. She also had coppertone appliances and the stove had so many push buttons, I thought the women in my family were geniuses to cook on it. She had the coolest midcentury modest house.
sherree says
Thanks for sharing this ladies! I wonder what the color name of my original green fixtures are? They are stamped Universal Rundle and my home was built in ’51-’52.
I have searched everywhere online and came up with nothing. Perhaps Universal Rundle company changed names?
I am stumped.
pam kueber says
Hmmm… I may have a U-R catalog somewhere. Key word being: somewhere.
sherree says
If you find it Pam let me know; I am sure you have nothing else to do this time of year 🙂 I did do some more digging; it seems at some point Universal Rundle was bought out by Sears and then by Crane? I just wish I knew the name of my color of green.
Mary Elizabeth says
My NOS bathroom sink in my green bathroom is a Kohler from 1979 (date stamped underneath), and the box was labeled “Aspen Green.” I am not sure what year that color started, but it was common throughout the ’70s among folks who preferred a color less yellow than avocado.
It is a very close match on the Bemis toilet seat color chart to the Universal Rundle color that is called simply, unpoetically “Green.” That appears to be the only green listed for Universal Rundle. If you need a new toilet seat, Sherree, you can get this chart and see if it matches your fixtures.
Lisa says
Sherree, I have the Universal Rundle green bathroom, too! I had to replace the side flusher on my toilet. Before that adventure I had never heard of the UR brand. I’ll have to check out that toilet seat site to do a comparison. Always wondered if it was a good match for the B and W tile, which seems more seafoam to me on the monitor.
Carolyn says
Referring back to Alan’s Vitrolite dilemma, the 1950’s Briggs Beautyware countertop is identical to what Pam & Kate came up with on the dream board.
But back to the Ming Green (and pink bathrooms), I am so tired of white bathrooms and they make my eyes hurt. How can you have a spa experience in a hospital setting?! These colors were chosen for their soothing quality and green is the basis of nature so just about anything coordinates with it.
Nice start to the week, thanks!
Jay says
How nice to see first thing for a Monday morning, a post on green bath fixtures. The 1950 AS catalog cut is a dead ringer for a green sink I saw in a consignment warehouse several years ago – $ 125 which I thought very reasonable. It looked to be in excellent shape having had little or no use at all; the chrome legs and towel bars were in beautiful condition Unfortunately I had no place to store it.
I guess I’ll just have to settle for minty green tile. Old catalogs and ads are neat to see.
CarolK says
Jay, What a find! I’d love to have a bathroom sink with chrome legs when we renovate the bathroom in a couple of years. The kitchen reno comes first, though.
Dan says
There is certainly some inspiration in these pics for color schemes for that Vitrolite kitchen from last week. I am stunned by the prices for the 1929 Kohler Mayfair pieces. $790 for a sink? In 1929? That could have bought a small Sears Ready-Built cottage, a houseful of furniture, or a new Model A Ford – with change left over for a Mediterranean cruise. That line, at least, was definitely marketed to the upper crust.
Marcia says
I was surprised at those prices, too. One inflation calculator I checked puts that $500 bath tub at almost $7,000 in today’s economy.
Elizabeth says
I….I….I….am speechless and drooling over here. SO.MANY.AMAZING.PHOTOS. What a treat to enjoy this with my morning coffee today. So much personality and spunk in each of the ads – ah, I can’t pick myself off the floor. Green is my most favorite color in the whole wide world. I feel like this post was personally made for me. LOL. Thanks, Pam and Kate!!
Signed,
Swooning over here
pam kueber says
🙂
Kate did a FAnTASTIC job with this research!
Steve H says
Totally agree! I love green bath fixtures and this post is a feast for the eyes. I’m going to be revisiting this one again and again. Another thing that always blows me away is all of the different designs for bathtub fronts. It seems like there was an endless variety.