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mysterious Victorian fireplace surround - marble?

last month

Hi,

I’ve recently bought an early Victorian house in east London UK, c.1860. Naturally I’ve been curious about what’s under the painted fireplace… it’s cold and definitely stone.

The front reception room has an exposed white marble surround and mantelpiece, but this one in the back reception room has been painted over multiple times.

First picture after some chipping away has revealed a really pretty green layer, but I can’t tell if that’s stone or mastic or another layer of paint!

Really worried I’d be wearing away green marble, I put some paint stripper on the underside briefly this afternoon (second photo is after some stripper). It took off 2 layers of paint, and now it’s onto this brown layer that’s harder to get off, it’s more grainy/sandy and harder wearing. Under that is the green layer…

I’m torn about whether to proceed with stripping the paint, as I can’t tell what the green layer is and am conflicted about chipping away more (also of course run the risk that upon revealing the stone, discover that it was covered up for a reason!)

Any advice gratefully received!!! Thank you

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Comments (3)

Isla Cherry
last month
I would speak to a reclamation yard about the best method for exposing the green stone. If it is marble which seems very likely considering the age of your house then you don't want to damage it if you can avoid it. Its a beautiful green, good luck with it.
Sonia
last month
Oh how lovely if it’s marble or any other stone. Marble is porous so I wouldn’t use any more paint stripper. I think it’s a matter of gently scraping it.
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Jo Bloggs
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If you want to strip the paint off, have a look at a company called Strippers paint removers. They have a very good website, I have used two of their products to strip paint off different surfaces with really good results. It is a bit of a messy process and may take a few days but it will be worth it.

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