Watercolour

A Brief History of Crystal as a Pigment

Have you ever looked at a piece of crystal and wondered how it got its color? The answer, it turns out, is both simple and complicated. Crystal gets its color from the elements that are found in its composition. For example, iron will give crystal a red or yellow hue, while cobalt will produce blue. But that's just the beginning. In this blog post, we'll explore the history of crystal as a pigment and take a look at some of the most popular colors of crystal today.

The earliest recorded use of crystal as a pigment dates back to Mesopotamia in the 3rd millennium BC. At that time, lapis lazuli was used to produce a deep blue color known as ultramarine. This pigment was highly prized by artists and was used in the paintings of Egyptian tombs and Buddhist temples.

In the Middle Ages, ultramarine fell out of favor due to its high cost and was replaced by azurite, which was mined in Europe. Azurite, however, was not as stable as ultramarine and often faded over time. It wasn't until the 18th century that French chemists were able to synthesize ultramarine, making it more affordable and accessible to artists once again.

Today, there are many different types and colors of crystal pigments available on the market. Some of the most popular include mica (which can be used to produce shimmering effects), tourmaline (which ranges in color from pink to green), and fluorite (which is often used in jewelry because of its wide range of colors). No matter what your project calls for, there's sure to be a type of crystal pigment that's perfect for you!

Crystal pigments have been used by artists for centuries to add color and beauty to their work. From early examples like ultramarine and azurite, to modern favorites like mica and tourmaline, these pigments add depth and interest to any painting or sculpture. Today it is not as common as synthetic pigments but remains an interesting part of art history nonetheless.

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