Saffron: Difference between revisions
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[[File:17.2788-SC155226.jpg|thumb|Indian watercolor<br>MFA# 17.2788]] | [[File:17.2788-SC155226.jpg|thumb|Indian watercolor<br>MFA# 17.2788]] | ||
== Description == | == Description == | ||
[[File:1976.319-SC120216.jpg|thumb|Saffron dyed fan<br>MFA# 1976.319]] | |||
A natural, golden yellow colorant obtained from the flower stigmas of the ''Crocus sativus'' plant that is native to the Middle East. Saffron was used to color the robes of emperors in ancient Persia and later, the robes of Buddhist monks in Asia. It was introduced to Europe through Spain in the 8th century and used in manuscript illumination until the 16th century. The deep yellow to orange color in saffron is primarily due to [[crocetin|crocetin]] and [[crocin|crocin]]. The colorants are extracted by boiling the dried flowers in water. Saffron is a substantive dye that produces a strong yellow color on alum mordanted and unmordanted wool. Copper mordanting produces a greenish yellow shade. Saffron was used for manuscript illumination and for coloring prints and maps. The transparent colorant was also used as a watercolor pigment and a tint in varnishes. It is still used as a dyestuff and as a cooking spice. | A natural, golden yellow colorant obtained from the flower stigmas of the ''Crocus sativus'' plant that is native to the Middle East. Saffron was used to color the robes of emperors in ancient Persia and later, the robes of Buddhist monks in Asia. It was introduced to Europe through Spain in the 8th century and used in manuscript illumination until the 16th century. The deep yellow to orange color in saffron is primarily due to [[crocetin|crocetin]] and [[crocin|crocin]]. The colorants are extracted by boiling the dried flowers in water. Saffron is a substantive dye that produces a strong yellow color on alum mordanted and unmordanted wool. Copper mordanting produces a greenish yellow shade. Saffron was used for manuscript illumination and for coloring prints and maps. The transparent colorant was also used as a watercolor pigment and a tint in varnishes. It is still used as a dyestuff and as a cooking spice. | ||
[[File:Saffronkes.jpg|thumb|Dried saffron]] | |||
[[File: | [[[SliderGallery rightalign|SaffronUCL.jpg~Raman|f219sem.jpg~SEM|f219edsbw.jpg~EDS|Slide25 FC219.PNG~XRF]]] | ||
== Synonyms and Related Terms == | == Synonyms and Related Terms == | ||
''Crocus sativus;'' Natural Yellow 6; CI 75100; karcom (Lat.); azafrán (Esp.); auripetrum colorant; safran (Fr., Dan.); safrankrokus (Dan.); Echter Safran (Deut.); zafferano (It.); safraan (Ned.); saffran (Sven.); szafran (Pol.); krokos bafikos (Gr.); zafora (Gr.); açafrão (Port.); crocin; crocetin; French saffron; zafran; crocus dye; red gold; vegetable gold | ''Crocus sativus;'' Natural Yellow 6; CI 75100; karcom (Lat.); azafrán (Esp.); auripetrum colorant; safran (Fr., Dan.); safrankrokus (Dan.); Echter Safran (Deut.); zafferano (It.); safraan (Ned.); saffran (Sven.); szafran (Pol.); krokos bafikos (Gr.); zafora (Gr.); açafrão (Port.); crocin; crocetin; French saffron; zafran; crocus dye; red gold; vegetable gold | ||
== Physical and Chemical Properties == | == Physical and Chemical Properties == | ||
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* Crocetin is soluble in water, ethanol, alkali solutions. | * Crocetin is soluble in water, ethanol, alkali solutions. | ||
* Crocetin forms a blue solution in concentrated sulfuric acid. | * Crocetin forms a blue solution in concentrated sulfuric acid. | ||
* Saffron has poor lightfastness. | |||
* Abs. max 464, 434 nm | |||
* Composition = C44H64O24 | |||
* Melting Point = 186 C | |||
== Additional Images == | == Additional Images == | ||
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<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File:Saffranvt.jpg|Saffron crocus ''Crocus sativus'' | File:Saffranvt.jpg|Saffron crocus ''Crocus sativus'' | ||
File:saffron C100x.jpg|Saffron, ground | File:saffron C100x.jpg|Saffron, ground | ||
File:07_Saffron comp.jpg|Dye mixtures of saffron | File:07_Saffron comp.jpg|Dye mixtures of saffron | ||
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* John and Margaret Cannon, ''Dye Plants and Dyeing'', Herbert Press, London, 1994 | * John and Margaret Cannon, ''Dye Plants and Dyeing'', Herbert Press, London, 1994 | ||
* F. Crace-Calvert, ''Dyeing and Calico Printing'', Palmer & Howe, London, 1876 | * F. Crace-Calvert, ''Dyeing and Calico Printing'', Palmer & Howe, London, 1876 | ||
* J. Thornton, 'The Use of Dyes and Colored Varnishes in Wood Polychromy', ''Painted Wood: History and Conservation'', The Getty Conservation | * J. Thornton, 'The Use of Dyes and Colored Varnishes in Wood Polychromy', ''Painted Wood: History and Conservation'', The Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles, 1998 | ||
* Ralph Mayer, ''A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques'', Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing) | * Ralph Mayer, ''A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques'', Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing) | ||
* ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', http://www.britannica.com Comment: "saffron" [Accessed March 5, 2002]. color photo of plant | * ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', http://www.britannica.com Comment: "saffron" [Accessed March 5, 2002]. color photo of plant | ||
Latest revision as of 16:17, 28 April 2026
Description
A natural, golden yellow colorant obtained from the flower stigmas of the Crocus sativus plant that is native to the Middle East. Saffron was used to color the robes of emperors in ancient Persia and later, the robes of Buddhist monks in Asia. It was introduced to Europe through Spain in the 8th century and used in manuscript illumination until the 16th century. The deep yellow to orange color in saffron is primarily due to crocetin and crocin. The colorants are extracted by boiling the dried flowers in water. Saffron is a substantive dye that produces a strong yellow color on alum mordanted and unmordanted wool. Copper mordanting produces a greenish yellow shade. Saffron was used for manuscript illumination and for coloring prints and maps. The transparent colorant was also used as a watercolor pigment and a tint in varnishes. It is still used as a dyestuff and as a cooking spice.
Synonyms and Related Terms
Crocus sativus; Natural Yellow 6; CI 75100; karcom (Lat.); azafrán (Esp.); auripetrum colorant; safran (Fr., Dan.); safrankrokus (Dan.); Echter Safran (Deut.); zafferano (It.); safraan (Ned.); saffran (Sven.); szafran (Pol.); krokos bafikos (Gr.); zafora (Gr.); açafrão (Port.); crocin; crocetin; French saffron; zafran; crocus dye; red gold; vegetable gold
Physical and Chemical Properties
- Crocetin is soluble in water, ethanol, alkali solutions.
- Crocetin forms a blue solution in concentrated sulfuric acid.
- Saffron has poor lightfastness.
- Abs. max 464, 434 nm
- Composition = C44H64O24
- Melting Point = 186 C
Additional Images
Saffron crocus Crocus sativus
Saffron, ground
Dye mixtures of saffron
Resources and Citations
- J.Hofenk-de Graaf, Natural Dyestuffs: Origin, Chemical Constitution, Identification, Central Research Laboratory for Objects of Art and Science, Amsterdam, September 1969.
- R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966
- R.J. Adrosko, Natural Dyes in the United States, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, 1968
- Helmut Schweppe, Schweppe color collection index and information book
- Palmy Weigle, Ancient Dyes for Modern Weavers, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York, 1974
- John and Margaret Cannon, Dye Plants and Dyeing, Herbert Press, London, 1994
- F. Crace-Calvert, Dyeing and Calico Printing, Palmer & Howe, London, 1876
- J. Thornton, 'The Use of Dyes and Colored Varnishes in Wood Polychromy', Painted Wood: History and Conservation, The Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles, 1998
- Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
- Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "saffron" [Accessed March 5, 2002]. color photo of plant
- Wikipedia: Saffron (Accessed Sept. 14, 2005 and March 2026)
- G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 60
- Colour Index International online at www.colour-index.org
- Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000
- CHSOS: Spectra (Reflectance, XRF, Raman, FTIR) for Saffron