Black chalk

Description

An old name for a soft, blue-black variety of a clay formed from aluminum containing slate. Black chalk obtains its color from impurities of carbon, oxide black black iron oxide, or oxide manganese oxide. It was sometimes used as a crayon or writing tool, especially since the Rennaisance. Black chalk was mined in Thuringia, parts of France and Andalucia. Sometimes graphite was also referred to as black chalk.

Synonyms and Related Terms

craie noire (Fr.); lapiz negro (Esp.); grafite (It.); piombaggine (It.); mineral black; black earth; Italian chalk

Hazards and Safety

No significant hazards.

Additional Information

J.Winter, "The Characterization of Pigments Based on Carbon" Studies in Conservation 28:49-66, 1983.

Additional Images

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  Pieces of black chalk

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  Black chalk

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  Frontal Study of an Aproaching Gray Wolf

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  Right Side Study of a Preening Trumpeter Swan

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  Fabricated black chalk

Authority

• R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966

• Ralph Mayer, Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)

• R.D. Harley, R.D. Harley, Artists' Pigments c. 1600-1835, Butterworth Scientific, London, 1982

• The Dictionary of Art, Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996 Comment: "Pigments" and "Chalk"

• Susan E. Schur, Susan E. Schur, Conservation Terminology: A review of Past & Current Nomenclature of Materials, Technology and Conservation, Spring (p.34-39); Summer (p.35-38); Fall (p.25-36), 1985

• Monona Rossol, Monona Rossol, The Artist's Complete Health and Safety Guide, Allworth Press, New York, 1994

• Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000