saffron

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Saffron

Since saffron fades it was used manly on books were it is rarely exposed to light.

Manufacturer / product code: Kremer 37110
Chemical description: yellow dye derived from the flowers of the saffron crocus.
Color: yellow
Color Index: NY 6
More info: Kremer PDF

Saffron, derived from the dried stigmas of Crocus sativus, is one of the most precious colorants in human history. Known primarily as a spice, saffron also occupies an important place in the history of dyes and pigments thanks to its warm, golden-orange hue. Its use dates back to antiquity: in ancient Minoan and Greek cultures, saffron appeared in frescoes and textile dyes, symbolizing luxury, divinity, and healing. The famous “Saffron Gatherers” fresco from Akrotiri on Santorini (ca. 1600 BCE) is one of the earliest artistic records of the plant’s cultural significance.

In ancient Egypt, saffron was valued for cosmetics, medicine, and ritual coloration. Across Persia and India, it became a central component of textile dyeing, particularly for the garments of nobility, monks, and court officials. Its brilliant color was associated with purity, spiritual enlightenment, and prosperity. Although saffron was rarely used as a long-lasting pigment in mural or panel painting—because its color is fugitive when exposed to light—it remained essential for manuscript illumination and temporary festive decorations. Medieval and Islamic manuscripts sometimes used saffron-based washes to tint pages, borders, or preparatory layers, exploiting its luminous, warm tone.

In Europe during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, saffron was used predominantly as a dye for fabrics, parchment tinting, and culinary decoration rather than as a painter’s pigment. Its high cost and light sensitivity limited its role in permanent artworks, yet references in recipe books and treatises attest to its use in dyes, inks, and colored glues.

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