Bone black
Composition and Properties of Bone Black
Bone black is a finely ground material obtained by carbonizing (charring) animal bones and containing around 10 to 20% carbon. The rest of the material consists of hydroxyapatite (basic calcium phosphate Ca5(OH)(PO4)3) and calcium sulfate.The term bone black is sometimes used synonymously with ivory black which is a similar pigment made by charring ivory pieces. The modern ivory black is almost always actually bone black due to the scarcity of ivory.The pigment is very stable as are all carbon blacks it is absolutely lightfast and is compatible with all other pigments.
Names
PBk 8, CI 77267Named after its source: bone black is prepared by charring animal bones.
Preparation
Bone black can be prepared by charring animal bones.
History of Use
Bone black has been in use since prehistoric times. The following graph gives the frequency of its use in the paintings of the Schack Collection in the Bavarian State Art Collections in Munich (1).Examples of use
