Malachite

Malachite is bright green color made of mineral Malachite. It is native carbonate of copper. It was one of the very popular greens of creating manuscripts, medieval painting in Europe and Asia. Still used in the Orient specially in Japan. Malachite is probably the oldest known green pigment also occurs in Egyptian tomb paintings. Color and wood grain pattern of cut mineral is very attractive and is used for luxurious accessories and jewelry. Cennino Cennini "Il Libro dell' Arte" - "This color is good in secco, with a tempera of yolk of egg, for making trees and foliage, and for laying in. This color is rather coarse by nature, and looks like fine sand. For the sake of the color, work it up very, very little, with a light touch; for if you were to grind it too much, it would come out dingy and ashy color." My malachite minerals are from deposits in China. The pigment is made in the same way as my azurite pigments except grind sizes are much smaller/finer with malachite pigment. The process start with crushing mineral, washing small particles, separated by sieving to sizes and carefully grinded again to prevent over-grinding. Then is powder washed again and separated by levigation. Fine powder is repeatable washed to remove milky solution to create vibrant very fine green pigment.