GROTON, MA — Old Fashioned Milk Paint is marking the 40-year anniversary of the discovery of this modern recipe for a classic, old-fashioned paint. In 1974, Charles Thibeau, a furniture maker in Groton, MA, had his eureka moment while trying to replicate an authentic finish for his colonial furniture reproductions. He was not trying to revolutionize the paint world, but his discovery changed the concept of what modern paint is and can be. He introduced a whole new generation to a time-tested, back-to-basics formulation in the process.
Milk paint, an ancient form of paint, is famous for being one of the world’s most durable paints. Milk protein (casein) and crushed limestone form a tough-as-nails coating that hardens over time like concrete, making it nearly impossible to remove. In early America, people made their own homemade versions of this paint with locally found materials including clay, chalk and pigments dug from the earth. Milk paint eventually fell out of favor with the invention of the paint can and modern, latex paint.