A collection of pigments was found in 1986, during the restoration of the dioramas in the Missiemuseum at Steyl-Tegelen (Limburg, Netherlands). The pigments had been used in 1929 for decorating the dioramas. The collection was analyzed microscopically, by microanalytical methods, laser microprobe, x-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Mainly common 19th-century and earlier pigments were found: yellow ochre, chalk, zinc white, barium sulphate, lithopone, artificial ultramarine, lead chromate and cobalt green. Some rather rare pigments were identified, e.g. artificial posnjakite, Indian yellow, ultramarine red and a modern synthetic organic pigment, chlorinated-p-nitroaniline red (PR 4, 12085). FTIR spectra were made of 10 more synthetic organic pigments. For the major part these were discovered in the last quarter of the 19th century. This study gives a good idea of what pigments were used in 1929 and what synthetic organic pigments were commercially available at that time.