The Mystery Behind Poisonous Green Color During Victorian Era
Interesting factoids I bet you never knew.
In 1814, a new type of green pigment was invented by The Wilhelm Dye and White Lead Company in Schweinfurt, Germany. It was more vibrant than in comparison with other green pigments. It had a more assertive tone. It was immediately termed “emerald green” because of its jewel-like appearance. It was particularly popular among ladies. Especially because gaslighting was used during that period instead of candles. Also, the houses were much more vivid compared to a few decades earlier when women attended gatherings at night. These socialites wanted to ensure they were dressed in outfits that caught the attention — dresses in emerald green, for example. Thus, people started to use this color for wall décor and carpets as well. “Bathed in green,” it was the statement of Victorian Britain.
Tragically, the color was synthesized with arsenic, which Alison Matthews David describes in-depth in her book Fashion Victims: The Dangers of Dress Past and Present. Arsenic poisoning has horrible consequences. It is not only dangerous, but it also causes ulcers throughout the body. Thus, this is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous substances for a civilization to be “bathed in.”
