“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!
diana says
Seems life was much more colorful back then than it is now.
Maria says
Oooh, lots of pretty! Ming green is my favorite of all the bathroom fixture colors.
Debbie in Portland says
My mother absolutely adored this color. The bathroom in my childhood home, built by my father in 1954, still features a Ming Green tub and sink although, alas, the Ming Green toilet had to be replaced a few years ago.
Mary Elizabeth says
Even if you had to replace the toilet with a white or biscuit colored one, you can still get a Ming Green toilet seat from Bemis. No, I don’t own stock in their company. I just love them for making replacement seats available in the whole range of mid-century colors.
Maile Lakely says
Our next project here is the master bath, and I can’t wait to turn our gold shag carpeted/faux marble double sinks/diamond faceted swag lamped bathroom into a beautiful jade green and sea blue sanctuary. From tile to monogramed towels (His/Hers), and glass block, I know I can do it!
Matt says
Thanks for the pictures! We scored an American Standard tub and two toilets in great shape from people across the street who are putting in whatever they’re doing, and I’ve been trying to get ideas for what to do when it’s time to un-renovate two of our bathrooms and use these. Maybe green/black trim in one bathroom since that’s what mom had somewhere she lived when she was in high school.
ineffablespace says
Avocado bath fixtures through Kohler was 1967. I think the color hit kitchen fixtures first because they were in my grandparents’ 1965 kitchen. The bathroom was Eljer turquoise.
Kohler also had Argent that looks like a grey-green, their Spruce was almost a dark teal, and they had an even darker Jade. Then they had Aspen, Fresh, and Evergreen in the 70s and 80s, Seafoam, Teal and Timberline in the 80s-90s.
Tea Green was a paler version of Ming, I think, for the 2000s.
We’ve gotten awfully boring colorwise. Kohler is just about the only one offering any color and it’s all shades of gray now.
Ranger Smith says
Thank you Kate and Pam for this comprehensive,well researched article. The pictures are fabulous! Our 1961 bathroom has green tile that could be called Ming. This article is very informative and helpful.
Tom says
Great post!
Green is an amazing color and needs to be celebrated!
Robin, NV says
Yay! Finally a celebration of green bathrooms. My American Standard Ming green bathroom was installed in 1962 – the last year it was available! Can’t wait to go back and drool over all the images Kate dug up. Maybe I’ll find some decoration ideas. 😀
Robin, NV says
Ooh! The American Standard Color Scheme #1 is very similar to what is in my bathroom. I wonder if the original owner of my house picked out the color scheme from this very catalog! Honestly, though, I really like the lime-y green countertop in the second color scheme.
Also, a warning to anyone with the American Standard Ming green fixtures – it’s much more blue than green. I figured that out through a lot of trial and error.
Melinda says
Ming green are my favorite bathrooms! If the retro gods really love me, when I find my forever house it will have a Ming green Cinderella tub. And now that I have seen it, I will forever be dreaming of that Gracelynn sink and vanity.