Difference between revisions of "Copal"

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m (Text replace - "== Authority ==" to "== Sources Checked for Data in Record ==")
 
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[[File:02.222-E11509CR-d1.jpg|thumb|]]
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[[File:02.222-E11509CR-d1.jpg|thumb|Devotion panel<br>MFA# 02.222]]
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
+
[[File:copal necklace.jpg|thumb|Copal necklace]]
 
A large variety of hard, natural resins obtained directly from trees such as Trachylobium species (Africa), Hymenaea courbaril (South America) and Agathis australis (New Zealand). Copals are also obtained as fossil resins from Zaire and Zanzibar. These fossil resins are very hard and almost completely insoluble. Copals are diterpenoid resins that contain communic acids, communol, resene, and volatile oil. They range in color from colorless to a bright yellow-brown. Classified as copal dur, the hardest copal resin is [[Zanzibar copal|Zanzibar]]. [[Sierra Leone copal|Sierra Leone]], [[Kauri resin|Kauri]], and [[Congo copal|Congo]] are of medium hardness (le demi-dur). [[Manila copal|Manila]] and Borneo are soft copals (le tendre). The oldest, most fossilized, resins are the hardest. Copal resins may be purchased as large lumps or small tears. They were used as [[oil varnish|oil varnishes]] for coaches in the 18th and 19th centuries but they darken and become insoluble with age. They also have been used in commercial [[varnish|varnishes]], [[linoleum]], [[oilcloth]], and as an [[amber]] substitute.
 
A large variety of hard, natural resins obtained directly from trees such as Trachylobium species (Africa), Hymenaea courbaril (South America) and Agathis australis (New Zealand). Copals are also obtained as fossil resins from Zaire and Zanzibar. These fossil resins are very hard and almost completely insoluble. Copals are diterpenoid resins that contain communic acids, communol, resene, and volatile oil. They range in color from colorless to a bright yellow-brown. Classified as copal dur, the hardest copal resin is [[Zanzibar copal|Zanzibar]]. [[Sierra Leone copal|Sierra Leone]], [[Kauri resin|Kauri]], and [[Congo copal|Congo]] are of medium hardness (le demi-dur). [[Manila copal|Manila]] and Borneo are soft copals (le tendre). The oldest, most fossilized, resins are the hardest. Copal resins may be purchased as large lumps or small tears. They were used as [[oil varnish|oil varnishes]] for coaches in the 18th and 19th centuries but they darken and become insoluble with age. They also have been used in commercial [[varnish|varnishes]], [[linoleum]], [[oilcloth]], and as an [[amber]] substitute.
  
[[File:copal necklace.jpg|thumb|Copal necklace]]
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[[File:15-28_Copal_glass.jpg|thumb|Copal on glass<br>visible light left; UV light right]]
  
 
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
 
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
  
copal (Esp.); copale (It); Zanzibar; Demerara; Benguela; Sierra Leone; Mozambique; red Angola; white Angola; Congo; kauri; Manila; Pontianak; Madagascar; Accra; Loango; Gaboon; Borneo; Singapore; South American; Cochin; Brazilian; Benin, swamp gum; anime; cowrie
+
copal (Esp.); copale (It); Zanzibar; Demerara; Benguela; Sierra Leone; Mozambique; red Angola; white Angola; Congo; kauri; Manila; Pontianak; Madagascar; Accra; Loango; Gaboon; Borneo; Singapore; South American; Cochin; Brazilian; Bursera; Benin, swamp gum; anime; cowrie; copaline
 +
 
 +
[[[SliderGallery rightalign|Copal resin.TIF~FTIR (MFA)|Copal blanca Bursera, NYBG 79644.TIF~FTIR (MFA) Blanca Bursera]]]
 +
== Risks ==
  
[[[SliderGallery rightalign|Copal resin.jpg~FTIR]]]
+
* Contact and inhalation may cause irritation. 
 +
* Combustible, burning with a bright flame, dense smoke and strong smell.
  
== Other Properties ==
+
==Physical and Chemical Properties==
  
After melting, copals are soluble in oil and turpentine. Soft copals are partially soluble in ethanol, chloroform, glacial acetic acid. Most copals fluoresce white in short-wave UV light.
+
* After melting, copals are soluble in oil and turpentine  
 +
* Soft copals are partially soluble in ethanol, acetone, chloroform, glacial acetic acid   
 +
* Most copals fluoresce white in SW; weaker in LW
 +
* Surface crazing is common
 +
* Fracture = conchoidal to uneven
 +
* Luster = resinous to viteous
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
 
|-
 
! scope="row"| Melting Point
 
! scope="row"| Melting Point
| 180-340
+
| 180-340 C
 
|-
 
|-
 
! scope="row"| Density
 
! scope="row"| Density
| 1.04-1.13
+
| 1.04-1.13 g/ml
 
|-
 
|-
 
! scope="row"| Refractive Index
 
! scope="row"| Refractive Index
 
| 1.528-1.545
 
| 1.528-1.545
 
|}
 
|}
 
== Hazards and Safety ==
 
 
Contact and inhalation may cause irritation.  Combustible, burning with a bright flame, dense smoke and strong smell.
 
 
== Additional Information ==
 
 
K.van den Berg, J.van der Horst, J.Boon, "Recognition of Copals in Aged Resin/oil Paints and Varnishes" in ICOM Preprints, Lyon, 1999. p.855-861.
 
  
 
== Comparisons ==
 
== Comparisons ==
Line 40: Line 41:
 
[[media:download_file_101.pdf|Properties of Natural Resins]]
 
[[media:download_file_101.pdf|Properties of Natural Resins]]
  
[[media:download_file_110.pdf|Properties of Natural Resins]]
+
==Resources and Citations==
 
+
* K.van den Berg, J.van der Horst, J.Boon, "Recognition of Copals in Aged Resin/oil Paints and Varnishes" in ICOM Preprints, Lyon, 1999. p.855-861.
 
+
* Gem Identification Lab Manual, Gemological Institute of America, 2016.
 
 
== Additional Images ==
 
 
 
<gallery>
 
File:15-28_Copal_glass.jpg|Copal
 
</gallery>
 
 
 
 
 
== Sources Checked for Data in Record ==
 
 
 
 
* R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, ''Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia'', Dover Publications, New York, 1966  Comment: melting points vary from 180-340C
 
* R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, ''Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia'', Dover Publications, New York, 1966  Comment: melting points vary from 180-340C
 
+
* ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', http://www.britannica.com  Comment: "Copal." Accessed 5 Jan. 2004.
* ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', http://www.britannica.com  Comment: "Copal." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2004.  Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service.  5 Jan. 2004 .
 
 
 
 
* 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)
 
 
* ''Dictionary of Building Preservation'', Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996
 
* ''Dictionary of Building Preservation'', Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996
 
 
* Reed Kay, ''The Painter's Guide To Studio Methods and Materials'', Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1983
 
* Reed Kay, ''The Painter's Guide To Studio Methods and Materials'', Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1983
 
 
* Hermann Kuhn, ''Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities'', Butterworths, London, 1986
 
* Hermann Kuhn, ''Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities'', Butterworths, London, 1986
 
 
* Michael McCann, ''Artist Beware'', Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979
 
* Michael McCann, ''Artist Beware'', Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979
 
 
* Thomas B. Brill, ''Light Its Interaction with Art and Antiquities'', Plenum Press, New York City, 1980  Comment: ref. index = 1.545 (Congo)
 
* Thomas B. Brill, ''Light Its Interaction with Art and Antiquities'', Plenum Press, New York City, 1980  Comment: ref. index = 1.545 (Congo)
 
 
* G.S.Brady, ''Materials Handbook'', McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971  Comment: p. 227
 
* G.S.Brady, ''Materials Handbook'', McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971  Comment: p. 227
 
 
* Richard S. Lewis, ''Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary'', Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
 
* Richard S. Lewis, ''Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary'', Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
 
 
* Matt Roberts, Don Etherington, ''Bookbinding and the Conservation of Books: a Dictionary of Descriptive Terminology'', U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC, 1982
 
* Matt Roberts, Don Etherington, ''Bookbinding and the Conservation of Books: a Dictionary of Descriptive Terminology'', U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC, 1982
 
 
* ''Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia'', Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976
 
* ''Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia'', Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976
 
 
* ''The Merck Index'', Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983  Comment: entry # 2581
 
* ''The Merck Index'', Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983  Comment: entry # 2581
 
+
* Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000
* Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000
+
* Wikipedia: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copal Copal] Accessed Dec 2022
 
 
* Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com  Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copal
 
 
 
 
* ''CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics'', Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980  Comment: density=1.04-1.14; ref. index = 1.528
 
* ''CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics'', Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980  Comment: density=1.04-1.14; ref. index = 1.528
 
 
* Paintings Specialty Group, ''Painting Conservation Catalog'', Wendy Samet (ed.), AIC, Washington, DC, 1998
 
* Paintings Specialty Group, ''Painting Conservation Catalog'', Wendy Samet (ed.), AIC, Washington, DC, 1998
  

Latest revision as of 12:23, 26 December 2022

Devotion panel
MFA# 02.222

Description

Copal necklace

A large variety of hard, natural resins obtained directly from trees such as Trachylobium species (Africa), Hymenaea courbaril (South America) and Agathis australis (New Zealand). Copals are also obtained as fossil resins from Zaire and Zanzibar. These fossil resins are very hard and almost completely insoluble. Copals are diterpenoid resins that contain communic acids, communol, resene, and volatile oil. They range in color from colorless to a bright yellow-brown. Classified as copal dur, the hardest copal resin is Zanzibar. Sierra Leone, Kauri, and Congo are of medium hardness (le demi-dur). Manila and Borneo are soft copals (le tendre). The oldest, most fossilized, resins are the hardest. Copal resins may be purchased as large lumps or small tears. They were used as oil varnishes for coaches in the 18th and 19th centuries but they darken and become insoluble with age. They also have been used in commercial varnishes, Linoleum, Oilcloth, and as an Amber substitute.

Copal on glass
visible light left; UV light right

Synonyms and Related Terms

copal (Esp.); copale (It); Zanzibar; Demerara; Benguela; Sierra Leone; Mozambique; red Angola; white Angola; Congo; kauri; Manila; Pontianak; Madagascar; Accra; Loango; Gaboon; Borneo; Singapore; South American; Cochin; Brazilian; Bursera; Benin, swamp gum; anime; cowrie; copaline

FTIR (MFA)

Copal resin.TIF

FTIR (MFA) Blanca Bursera

Copal blanca Bursera, NYBG 79644.TIF

Risks

  • Contact and inhalation may cause irritation.
  • Combustible, burning with a bright flame, dense smoke and strong smell.

Physical and Chemical Properties

  • After melting, copals are soluble in oil and turpentine
  • Soft copals are partially soluble in ethanol, acetone, chloroform, glacial acetic acid
  • Most copals fluoresce white in SW; weaker in LW
  • Surface crazing is common
  • Fracture = conchoidal to uneven
  • Luster = resinous to viteous
Melting Point 180-340 C
Density 1.04-1.13 g/ml
Refractive Index 1.528-1.545

Comparisons

Properties of Natural Resins

Resources and Citations

  • K.van den Berg, J.van der Horst, J.Boon, "Recognition of Copals in Aged Resin/oil Paints and Varnishes" in ICOM Preprints, Lyon, 1999. p.855-861.
  • Gem Identification Lab Manual, Gemological Institute of America, 2016.
  • R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966 Comment: melting points vary from 180-340C
  • Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "Copal." Accessed 5 Jan. 2004.
  • Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
  • Dictionary of Building Preservation, Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996
  • Reed Kay, The Painter's Guide To Studio Methods and Materials, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1983
  • Hermann Kuhn, Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities, Butterworths, London, 1986
  • Michael McCann, Artist Beware, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979
  • Thomas B. Brill, Light Its Interaction with Art and Antiquities, Plenum Press, New York City, 1980 Comment: ref. index = 1.545 (Congo)
  • G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 227
  • Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
  • Matt Roberts, Don Etherington, Bookbinding and the Conservation of Books: a Dictionary of Descriptive Terminology, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC, 1982
  • Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976
  • The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry # 2581
  • Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000
  • Wikipedia: Copal Accessed Dec 2022
  • CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: density=1.04-1.14; ref. index = 1.528
  • Paintings Specialty Group, Painting Conservation Catalog, Wendy Samet (ed.), AIC, Washington, DC, 1998

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