Egyptian green

Description

1) A green pigment used in Egyptian and Mediterranean wall paintings that is analogous to the mineral Pyroxene. Egyptian green is thought to have been may intentionally by varying the manufacturing process for Egyptian blue. It has been found in sties from the late 3rd millennium (Siddall 2018). Egyptian green was sometimes imitated by using Egyptian blue with Yellow ocher (Mayer 1969).

2) A type of synthetic patina on bronzes in which the finish is green in the recesses and black in the polished areas. See Patina, synthetic.

Synonyms and Related Terms

pyroxene; vert égyptien (Fr.); verde Egípcio (Port.)

Resources and Citations

• Ruth Siddall, 'Mineral Pigments in Archaeology: Their Analysis and the Range of Available Materials' Minerals Vol 8, p. 201 (2018). Link
• Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
• C. Proctor, "The Modern Way of Producing Verde Antique, Roman Bronze and Patinas on the soft Metal Alloys by the Aid of Pigments" reprinted in Conservation & Technology 2/85 from The Metal Industry, January 1905