Indian lake
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Description
A deep red lake color made from Lac dye precipitated with Alum. Indian lake was once an important colorant used since ancient times. It has since been replaced by synthetic colors. Lac dye colorant is obtained from the exudations of the insect Laccifer (Tachardia) lacca (formerly Coccus lacca). The extracted color was used as a dye and prepared as Indian lake pigment.
Synonyms and Related Terms
laca india (Esp.)
Additional Information
R. J. Gettens and G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966.
Sources Checked for Data in Record
- Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
- R.D. Harley, Artists' Pigments c. 1600-1835, Butterworth Scientific, London, 1982
- Matt Roberts, Don Etherington, Bookbinding and the Conservation of Books: a Dictionary of Descriptive Terminology, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC, 1982