Red organic pigments

Giancarlo Buzzanca <gbuzza [at] tin__it>, on behalf of Livia Marini and
Fiammetta Jahier, writes

>    ... We've met with many
>    difficulties looking for the raw materials, like
>    Cochineals(coccus cacti), Kermes (coccus ilicis), brasil wood...

I have purchased the following from Kremer pigments:

    *   cochineal (coccus cacti) - raw dyestuff (carmine lake also
        available)
    *   Lac (coccus laca) - extracted dyestuff
    *   brasilwood - raw dyestuff (extract also available)
    *   madder - raw dyestuff (also available as lake pigment)

Most recent contact info:

    Dr. Georg F.Kremer
    Farbmuhle
    D-88317 Aichstetten
    Germany
    +49 7565 1011
    Fax: +49 7565 1606

In USA: 1-800-995-5501 (they have a NY office)

Some of these materials were also available from Zecchi last time I
was in Firenze.

I have used the materials as dyestuffs on parchment/vellum/tawed
skins, but cannot attest to their properties when precipitated as
lake pigments.

I do not know of any sources for other red pigments used in Europe
during this period such as the various species of Kermes, Polish
Cochineal (aka St.John's Blood), etc.  I have heard that one can
obtain Kermes in Turkey if one knows who to ask. If anyone else on
the list knows of sources, I would also appreciate the information,
as I am eager to compare these ancient dyestuffs with those I am
currently working with.

Regards, Rick Cavasin

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 12:65
                 Distributed: Tuesday, February 9, 1999
                       Message Id: cdl-12-65-004
                                  ***