ivory black

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Ivory black

This is real “ivory black” made from real ivory. Often pigments commercialized as “ivory black” are made from ordinary animal bones. It is the least pure form of carbon black, containing a high percentage of calcium phosphate.

Manufacturer / product code: Kremer / 12000
Chemical description: It contains calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate and carbon. Kremer PDF
Color: black
Color Index: PBk9
More info: colourlex.com

Ivory black is one of the most refined and historically esteemed black pigments used in art. Traditionally produced by charring ivory in a controlled environment, it yields a smooth, deep black composed primarily of carbon with traces of calcium phosphate. Its origins stretch back to antiquity: the Egyptians and Greeks used similar carbon-based blacks, though the specific use of charred ivory gained prominence much later.

By the Middle Ages and especially during the Renaissance, ivory black became a favored material among European painters. Its fine particle size, subtle transparency, and cool tone made it ideal for underdrawing, shading, and glazing. Masters such as Rembrandt, Velázquez, and Goya employed it for its ability to produce delicate transitions, atmospheric shadows, and rich darks without the harshness sometimes associated with soot-based blacks.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, ivory black was widely available through commercial pigment manufacturers, valued in oil painting, watercolour, and printmaking. However, concerns about the ethical and environmental implications of using ivory eventually led to the adoption of bone black—produced from animal bones—as its primary substitute. Modern “ivory black” sold today is therefore typically a high-quality bone black, maintaining the traditional working properties while eliminating the historical material.

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