Kernel black

Description

A Carbon black pigment obtained by charring the pits from peaches or cherries and later from nut shells such as walnut, almond or coconut. The deep blue-black color was recommended for watercolor paints in the early 17th century. Vegetable blacks were rarely used in oil painting due to very slow drying times.

Synonyms and Related Terms

peach black; vegetable black; vine black; fruit stone black

Additional Information

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

Authority

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

• Matt Roberts, Don Etherington, Bookbinding and the Conservation of Books: a Dictionary of Descriptive Terminology, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC, 1982

• John S. Mills, Raymond White, The Organic Chemistry of Museum Objects, Butterworth Heineman, London, 2nd ed., 1994