Rouge

Description

A pure, finely powdered red iron oxide. Rouge is synthetically made by calcining ferrous sulfate. It ranges in color from bright red to dark. In general, the darker color indicates a harder grain. Rouge has rounded particles that burnish rather than scratch. It is used as a polishing agent for glass, metals, and jewelry. Very fine, ultrapure rouge is called Jewelers' rouge.

Synonyms and Related Terms

polishing rouge; polishing crocus

Physical and Chemical Properties

• Mohs Hardness = 5.5 - 6.5

Comparisons

Properties of Common Abrasives

Resources and Citations

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p.674

• Michael McCann, Artist Beware, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979

• R.M.Organ, Design for Scientific Conservation of Antiquities, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, 1968

• Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000