Category:Mica: Ukiyo-e colorant

Mica 雲母 (kira or unmo): A group of silicate minerals that cleave into thin, flexible translucent sheets. The most common type of mica is muscovite, which is colorless. Mica can appear in a variety of tones depending on its origin and preparation. Mica is ground into a powder which can be printed or sprinkled to create a shimmering effect. Paste or animal glue (膠 nikawa) would be used to affix the mica. On its own, it is a pearlescent white, but it can also be mixed with a colorant to make colored mica. Pink (mica and a red colorant) or dark gray (mica and carbon black) are the commonly found colored micas. Mica can also be found applied over a printed color.

Large fields of mica appear most frequently on prints made during the late 18th century that depicted actors and beautiful women where it was used on the background to highlight the figure.

For additional information see: Mica

Examples of Mica in Ukiyo-e Prints


Pt 9: Mica Kitagawa Utamaro I, 11.14364


Pt 6: Dark gray mica Tōshūsai Sharaku, 11.14674


Pt 4: Mica Utagawa Kunisada, 11.15095


Pt 10: Sprinkled mica Chōbunsai Eishi, 34.336

Analysis

X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) is used to detect silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), potassium (K), and iron (Fe). In conjunction with visual inspection, it is an indication for the presence of mica.