The ability to colour almost any surface and material is something we now take very much for granted. Our attempts to produce brilliant and vibrant hues to be used within homes and on fabrics have led to a number of disasters throughout history, one of the most notable of which being Paris Green (or Vienna Green) and its predecessor Scheele’s Green (or Schloss Green). The use of both pigments was widespread, colouring a variety of items from wallpaper and cloth, to food items and paints, and continued to be used despite growing knowledge about their toxicity and numerous health problems related to the products.

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