Green has been used since Antiquity, in the form
of green earths and minerals such as malachite. Malachite is perhaps the oldest
known green pigment, discovered by Egyptians about 3000 BC. Malachite is a copper carbonate natural occurring mineral, which is also found along with a blue colour mineral called azurite.
Malachite Green
‘First
green ever used’
Etymology:
malache
Source:
mineral
Chemical
name: copper resinate
Colour range: pale to bright green
Colour range: pale to bright green
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| Photos: Studio Laura Daza, Kkgas, Lidia Radziszewska |
This pigment was widely used in amulets, jewelry, cosmetics
and eye shadow. Once again Egyptians play an important roll in the discovery
and use of minerals as colour. This mineral was heavily mined in the Sinai near
what is now the Suez Canal, in the copper mines located on the Red Sea.
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| Photo: Kkgas for Studio Laura Daza |
Green and blue had a positive connotation in ancient Egypt. The Goddess of Heaven was sometimes depicted as green tree. She was governing over love and life. The green mineral malachite was especially important; it was prized because it was the easiest copper mineral to reduce to copper metal. It can be said that the copper mining in Sinai, for malachite and azurite, may have been the first real industry of the ancient world.
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| Photo: Studio Laura Daza |
The
natural form of malachite was being replaced by its synthetic form, which is
the colour verditer, among other
synthetic greens. It was also used for decorative purposes. The nineteenth
century proved to be the golden age of Russian malachite. The sumptuous stone
became a sign of prestige and wealth; a piece of malachite was equivalent to
diamonds.
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| Photo: Kkgas for Studio Laura Daza |
Interested in learning more about this colour?
Join us in the upcoming Colour Alchimia workshop.
November 24th
10.00 - 14.00
Barcelona, Spain
