egyptian blue

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Egyptian blue

The first synthetic pigment used from the early dynasties in Egypt until the end of the Roman period in Europe.

Manufacturer / product code: Kremer / 10060
Chemical description: artificial copper calcium silicate.
Color: blue
Color Index: PB31
More info: Pigments Through The Ages

Egyptian blue holds a unique place in the history of colour, science, and cultural heritage. Known as the world’s first synthetic pigment, it was invented in ancient Egypt more than 4,500 years ago. This remarkable material—chemically a calcium copper tetrasilicate—was produced by heating a mixture of copper compounds, sand, lime, and an alkali to high temperatures, resulting in a brilliant blue crystalline substance. Its creation marked a milestone in human craftsmanship: the deliberate engineering of colour through controlled chemical reactions.

From the Old Kingdom onward, Egyptian blue was used widely across pharaonic art. It appears in tomb paintings, statues, sarcophagi, and decorative objects, where its luminous turquoise-to-deep blue hue symbolised truth, divinity, and the eternal waters of the Nile. The pigment’s stability made it ideal for monumental works that needed to endure the desert climate.

The use of Egyptian blue later spread throughout the Mediterranean. Greek artists adopted it for architectural decoration and sculpture, while the Romans applied it in wall paintings, mosaics, and luxury goods. Its brilliance remained unmatched until the development of later copper-based blues, such as the cobalt pigments.

After antiquity, the technology to produce Egyptian blue was lost, and the pigment faded from artistic practice—yet it survived on artworks, proving remarkably resistant to fading and chemical alteration. Today, its presence is detected using modern analytical techniques such as infrared fluorescence photography, Raman spectroscopy, and XRF.

For conservators, researchers, and art historians, Egyptian blue represents a perfect convergence of ancient innovation and modern science.

Raman Spectroscopy 532 nm – ElviRa Spectrometer for Art

Raman Spectroscopy 532 nm (ElviRa spectrometer) Pigments-Checker Database (65163 downloads )

Egyptian blue 10060 Raman Spectroscopy Pigments Checker

XRF spectroscopy

XRF Spectroscopy Pigments-Checker Database (77533 downloads )

DOWNLOAD previous database from Pigments Checker V.3 DOWNLOAD paper: R. Larsen, N. Coluzzi, A. Cosentino “Free XRF Spectroscopy database of Pigments Checker” Intl Journal of Conservation Science.