Gamboge: Ukiyo-e colorant

Gamboge 藤黄(to-o): A yellow-orange gum-resin produced by several species of Garcinia tree found in India, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Ceylon. Gamboge was used as a yellow pigment as early as the 8th century in Asia and Japan. Gamboge is composed of a yellow resinous component (70-80%; morelloflavone) and a clear water-soluble Gum (20%). (This is a direct copy from the gamboge page.Do we want to add about how it's collected? its transparency?)

Gamboge has not yet been detected as a single colorant but has been found in mixtures with other colorants. (check)

For more information see: Gamboge

Examples of Gamboge in Ukiyo-e Prints

Beauties of the Yoshiwara by Suzuki Harunobu

Beauties of the Yoshiwara by Suzuki Harunobu

Beauties of the Yoshiwara by Suzuki Harunobu

Beauties of the Yoshiwara by Suzuki Harunobu

Beauties of the Yoshiwara by Suzuki Harunobu

Analysis

Gamboge does not fluoresce under UVA radiation and does not produce a distinct pattern using Excitation Emission Matrix (EEM) spectroscopy. Of the possible yellow colorants analyzed, it is the only bright yellow colorant that not only does not fluoresce but also absorbs the fluorescence emitted by the paper. This negative indication was sometimes used to assign the presence of gamboge.

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  3D EEM plot of Gamboge

Other Images of Gamboge

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  Gamboge pieces

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  Gamboge, powdered

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  Gamboge: Vis (left) UV (right)

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  Gamboge, transmitted light

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  Paper dyed with gamboge

List of Prints

List of prints where indigo was detected