Spanish white

Description

A fine, high-grade Whiting imported from Spain in the 18th century. Spanish white is a natural earth primarily composed of Calcium carbonate (Chalk). One source reports that some commerical products sold as Spanish white were mixed with alum, and may also have been composed of barium subnitrate (pearly white) (Schur 1985).

Resources and Citations

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

• 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

• Dictionary of Building Preservation, Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996