toxic red sludge / iron oxide / hematite / mars red / red mars / red ochre / red bole / china red


- bill 11-05-2010 8:07 pm

cinabrese

REDS.—As regards red pigments, many shades of this colour were obtained from the native red oxides of iron, varying from an orange to a purple hue. Besides these the ancients used burnt ochres and siennas to obtain reds, as we do today, and we find them perfectly permanent.

The term " sinopia," and its different renderings such as " sinopis," " cynople," " sinopre," " cinobrium," etc., have been applied to different red pigments, over and over again, in classical and mediæval documents, to colours which embrace red iron earths, minium, or red lead, madder-red and vermilion, or the native red cinnabar. The latter word is derived from sinopia, and therefore the true sinopia would simply be cinnabar or native quicksilver vermilion, the native red sulphide of mercury. The sinopia mentioned by Pliny as having been used by Apelles was a native oxide of iron brought from Sinopia, a city of Pontus, also from Egypt and the Balearic Isles. This was probably hematite, the mineral from which is obtained the modern pigment known as Indian red, and not the brilliant red derived from cinnabar earth. It is somewhat surprising to read in the MSS. of Alcherius (circa 1400), that " sinopis is a colour redder than vermilion ; it is also called cinobrium and mellana, and is made from madder." Cinnabar or vermilion is one of the oldest colours known to the Chinese, as they used both the native and artificial varieties more than two thousand years ago, and Chinese vermilion was imported from China into Europe in the thirteenth century. The native cinnabar was, however, prepared as a pigment and used by artists in Europe at a much earlier date. It is obtained from the quicksilver mines of Europe, and notably from those of Spain, where it is still found.
- bill 11-05-2010 8:29 pm [add a comment]


Cinnabar (Zinnober)
This natural ore (Mercuric Sulfide) was a popular source for a red-orange artist-pigment also known as Vermilion. In fact the terms "cinnabar" and "vermilion" were used interchangeably to refer to either the natural or the later synthesized colour until around the 17th century when vermilion became the more common name. By the late 18th century, the name cinnabar was applied only to the unground natural mineral. An opaque red pigment, Cinnabar production was dominated by the Chinese who found an early means of making it that remained the best method for over 1,000 years. Unfortunately, it is highly toxic. Most natural vermilion comes from cinnabar mines in China, hence its alternative name of China red. It was replaced by the Cadmium Reds during the 19th century. See also Vermilion (below).



Vermilion (Vermillion)
An orange-ish red pigment with fine hiding power and good permanence, but high toxicity. Natural Vermilion, known to the Romans as Minium, comes from the mineral ore Cinnabar (see above), and the name Vermilion is most commonly used to describe the synthetic version of the pigment, which nowadays is usually obtained by reacting mercury with molten sulfur. In Antiquity, Vermilion/Cinnabar was highly prized, being ten times more expensive than red ochre. Later it was an important colourant in illuminated manuscripts, although it remained prohibitively expensive until the 14th century when a synthetic version was first produced. Vermilion was the traditional red pigment in Chinese art, and is the colourant used in Chinese red lacquer. Today, Vermilion has been replaced in painting by the pigment cadmium red.

This natural ore (Mercuric Sulfide) was a popular source for a red-orange artist-pigment also known as Vermilion. In fact the terms "cinnabar" and "vermilion" were used interchangeably to refer to either the natural or the later synthesized colour until around the 17th century when vermilion became the more common name. By the late 18th century, the name cinnabar was applied only to the unground natural mineral. An opaque red pigment, Cinnabar production was dominated by the Chinese who found an early means of making it that remained the best method for over 1,000 years. Unfortunately, it is highly toxic. Most natural vermilion comes from cinnabar mines in China, hence its alternative name of China red. It was replaced by the Cadmium Reds during the 19th century. See also Vermilion (below).
- bill 11-05-2010 8:35 pm [add a comment]


RED Color Index Name Code CI Pigment Name Common, Historic and Marketing Names C.I. Number # Chemical Composition Color Description †Long Term Effects of Light Opacity Light Fastness Oil Ab. Oil Absorption Side Notes


- bill 11-05-2010 8:59 pm [add a comment]


pure vermilion (mercuric sulfide) / the movie / ethical mercury disposal / the story of paint and varnish
- bill 11-05-2010 9:43 pm [add a comment]


Armenian bole, also known as bolus armenus or bole armoniac, is an earthy clay, usually red, native to Armenia. It is red due to the presence of iron oxide; the clay also contains hydrous silicates of aluminum and possibly magnesium. Historically, it was used as an astringent, prescribed against diarrhea, dysentery, hemorrhage, etc. Externally, it was used in strengthening plasters, against dislocations of the joints. Physicians sometimes also called it Rubrica Synopica, from the city of Synope, where it is supposed to be found.

source for red yellow and black
- bill 11-08-2010 9:29 pm [add a comment]


Here's a couple of English recipes from around 1900 They're taken from the Newcastle Northern Echo's booklet, "300 Secret Trade Recipes"

Black Sealing Wax
3/4lb best black resin,
1/4lb finely powdered ivory black
and 2 oz beeswax.

Melt over a slow fire and form into sticks by rolling on a piece of glass.

Red Sealing Wax
1lb shellac,
3/4lb vermillion or venetian red,
and 5 oz Venice turpentine.

From the Encyclopaedia Britannica (first ed./1771) under 'Wax':

"Sealing wax is made in the following manner: Take one pound of bees-wax; three ounces of fine turpentine; olive-oil, and rosin, finely powdered, of each one ounce: when they are well melted, and the dross taken off, put in an ounce and a half of vermillion, or red lead, finely ground, and stir them together till they are well incorporated: and when this mixture grows a little cool, roll it into sticks, or in any other form. If you would have it black, instead of vermillion, or red-lead, put in lampblack."

"The soft, red, and green-wax, used in large seals to some of our law-writings are thus made: Melt bees-wax over a gentle heat, with such a proportion of Venice turpentine as, when cold, will give it the due consistence: this is determined by repeated trials, first putting in but little turpentine, and afterwards more and more, till by dropping a piece upon a marble to cool, it is found of the true consistence. They then colour it with red-lead or vermillion, or with verditer, or whatever colour they please, the mixture in this state receiving any."

In general, vermillion will look 'brighter' than red lead, which tends to be dull and toward the orange side of red.

John Partrige, The Treasurie of Commodious Conceipts and Hidden Secrets, 1573 To make red sealyng wax.

Take one pound of Wax .iii. ounces of cleare Tyrpentyne in Sommer, in Winter take fowre: melte them together with a soft fyre: Then take it from the fire and let it coole: Then put in Uermylion berye fynely grounde, and Salet Oyle, of each an ounce, and mix them well together, and it is perfect good.
- bill 11-08-2010 9:43 pm [add a comment]





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