Mummy; a bituminous brown pigment that consisted of ground up Egyptian mummies in the 16th and 17th centuries and was sometimes sold to artists under other names to avoid the unpleasantness of knowingly painting with dead bodies. It was banned after an outbreak of disease in London was (erroneously) attributed to it.
Brown is associated with earth, nature, autumn, and all things natural or organic. More intangible qualities associated with brown include confidence, reliability, comfort, stability, tranquility, strength, productivity, and authenticity. Around the world the Hispanics and Indo-Aryan people of South Asia are sometimes called brown. More somber associations are with mourning in India, and brown was the color of the Nazi party from the 1920’s to 1940’s. In Columbia, brown is considered to discourage sales, and in Nicaragua it is a sign of disapproval (is that true, Lisette??).
A good way to use neutrals including brown in design would be in rooms designed for peace, harmony, and quiet, and in clothing that was either business conservative or 'natural' (i.e., green, organic, natural fibers) depending on the style. Where the use of brown might be discouraged is in spaces that are designed to be deliberately cheerful, upbeat and happy (i.e, the children's wing in a hospital ). There you would want to break out the oranges, reds, and yellows.
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