Though often lavishly used in decorative arts in Egypt for thousands of years, there is no evidence that lapis lazuli was used as a pigment. The ancient Egyptians invented a different and just as beautiful blue called Egyptian Blue frit, shown above. This pigment consisted of a crystalline compound of silica, copper, and lime. It is thought the … [Read more...] about Egyptian Blue
Historical Pigments
Dung Balls and Sun Gods
As said before, when delving into a colorful history of any culture, you never know what will be unearthed. This fabulous necklace was found in the tomb of King Tut who reigned in the 18th Dynasty, 1334-1325 BC. The recurring theme in this design is the rising sun-god. The lapis lazuli scarab represents the sun-god, khepri. Scarab … [Read more...] about Dung Balls and Sun Gods
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE PHARAOH’S BLING CAPTIVATES FOR NEW PROJECT Well, it has happened again. I have been captivated by bling. This time however, it is not Rembrandt’s bling, or the Dutch Masters’ bling. It’s the bling of the Pharaoh. For the past many months, I have been dreaming, imagining, planning, and laboring side-by-side with the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt. … [Read more...] about FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monks Seeing Red
Very early manuscripts document both the manufacture and use of vermilion. Some called this indispensable color the prince of reds which was more brilliant than the natural cinnabar. Theophilus (Roger of Helmarshausen)the Benedictine Monk, described the alchemical synthesis in his technical handbook De diversis artibus (On Divers Arts … [Read more...] about Monks Seeing Red
Red Haired Men and Other Curiosities on Pigments
A lively and strange excerpt from Bright Earth by Philip Ball, gives us a recipe for Spanish Gold using pure magical thinking. From the writings of Theophilus: "There is also a gold named Spanish gold, which is compounded from red copper, basilisk powder, human blood, and vinegar. The heathen, whose skill in this art is … [Read more...] about Red Haired Men and Other Curiosities on Pigments
Seeing Red
The color tests here are a perfect way to portray the differences between the modern pigments and the historic. On the left is the historic vermilion, pure above and mixed with white below. On the right is the modern pigment, cadmium red, pure on the top and mixed with white below. The intensity of the two colors is immediately apparent. The … [Read more...] about Seeing Red