“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!
Gus Luttrell says
Many an audible gasp as I (slowly) read through all this awesomeness. I am uh, green with envy! Thank you two so much for this valuable information. I am going to ut it to good use in the near future. Trust. ????
Neil says
Erica’s (pictured) vintage green drainboard sink (above a painted metal[?] cabinet with those great round chrome pulls) is absolutely fan-tabul-orgeous!
Donald says
Just toured this home today. Amazing green bathroom with tiled in vanity. The shower was round inside.
https://www.redfin.com/CA/Riverside/4530-Sunnyside-Dr-92506/home/4980736
pam kueber says
what a beautiful home! Yes: That bathroom!!!!
Christa says
Buy it right now. What a beauty!
Donald says
Saw this green drainboard sink on ebay the other day. Wish I had a place for it. They are usually back east, hardly ever see them in California.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281842087664?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Lisa says
I’ve been poking around for awhile trying to find a replacement for my sadly worn, scratched, and dull ming green sink. I saw on the Home Depot site a few sinks called “Vapour Green”. The color, if my monitor is right, seems a little more sea foamish but , hey, it’s a green color at least. Unfortunately, the sink styles that come in Vapour Green are not really mid century style. Undermounts, vessels, funky shapes. Not hudee ring sinks. Has anyone seen this color in real life?
Lisa says
http://www.homedepot.com/p/KOHLER-Ledges-Undermount-Bathroom-Sink-in-Vapour-Green-K-2838-KG/205761908
pam kueber says
Lisa, these green sinks should not be “super” hard to find vintage. Start stalking your ReStore(s), salvage shops, ebay and even try deabath.com and other online spots.
pam kueber says
For example, lots on ebay right now (affiliate link): New Old Stock green sinks on ebay
Beth says
I bought a green vanity sink at the Habitat ReStore for $20 a couple of months ago, and it is pristine. I had to get it because it is so beautiful, even though I have nowhere to use it. I was thinking that maybe a friend or someone with a need might be able to use it. I was calling the color as jade green until I read this article. The style is like the one in the ad for the Kohler Spruce Green. I could try to post a photo. There were no legs with it.
ineffablespace says
Kohler currently has $5000 sinks and toilets and $16,000 bathtubs, and these aren’t even in their luxury division which is Kallista. I think it has historically been an across the board vendor from luxury options to very basic options.
Justin says
Awesome. Thank you for the history lesson. I find it fascinating to read information like this.
One question I do have is in regards to the Princess Tubs. Do you by chance know the history of them?
Thanks.
Jen says
I wonder if Kate would share with us how to do research on archive.org. What kind of search terms do you use? Any particular set of sources? I’m just amazed by the beautiful images Kate found.
Jen says
I clicked on the links in the story and am getting a better sense of how to search archive.org. Sorry, should have done so sooner!
Cynthia says
Stupendous research, beautiful colors and fixtures. The 1929 Mayfair with gold plated fittings – did you check out the prices? Back in 1929 (the Great Depression hit in October) – the lavatory priced at $790 is the equivalent of paying $10,848.03 for this fixture in 2015! Was Kohler an ultra luxury brand back then? Even the price of gold plating would not account for that huge price!
Karin says
Incredible! What a post. All of these are so beautiful. Thank you, what a treat for the eyes they are.