Caput mortuum, Latin for as "dead head" is an ominous name for a highly prized color. As an iron oxide it's easy to make at home. From an ancient Egyptian recipe this deep purplish-brown pigment used in art, dyeing and alchemy. Ingredients are commonplace.
Alchemy comes from several sources, from metals and gemology to medicines and herbology, to creation of pigments for painting and dyeing. The purple trend begins with Julius Caesar, who wears the color to stress his importance.
A highly desirable color in ancient Rome, the stylish Tyrian purple requires mass murder of thousands of murex sea snails. The color comes from their mucus glands. Because only the most wealthy can afford Tyrian purple, alternate sources are in great demand.
Natural dyes like elderberry show up early in history. Alchemical mixtures of purple appear by the first century AD, caput mortuum being among them. Pigments created by alchemists include yellow orpiment, Prussian blue, white and red lead. They're often toxic.
The first synthetic purple appears in the mid-19th century. Mauve, or aniline purple, is invented by 18-year-old William Henry Perkin. He discovers a method to make it from coal tar. The color appears on the palettes of the French Impressionists.
Here are the simple steps to create caput mortuum pigment at home. It's quick and easy to prepare but the final phase involves soaking for several days. Pics are pending.
Ingredients:
Iron oxide, commonly known as rust
Vinegar or another acidic solution
Glass jars or containers
Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth (muslin)
Water
If you opt to make rust, the following ingredients are also needed:
hydrogen peroxide
table salt
piece(s) of iron or steel
Step 1: Collecting Iron Oxide (Rust)
Begin by gathering iron oxide, which can be scraped or broken as natural rust forming on iron or steel. Rust is easy to collect from old metal tools, nails, or even iron filings. Need to make rust? Proceed to Step 1a below. Otherwise skip to Step 2.
Step 1a: Making Rust
Ingredients:
2 cups (470 ml) hydrogen peroxide
4 tbsp (59 ml) white vinegar
1.5 tsp (8.5g) table salt
Spray a solution of hydrogen peroxide, white vinegar, and salt on a clean piece of metal. Continue until the metal is well rusted. Let dry and scrape off the rust, or use as is.
Step 2: Preparing the Acid Solution
Next, prepare the acidic solution by combining vinegar with water in a glass jar or container. The acidity of the solution helps in extracting and dissolving the iron oxide from the rust.
Step 3: Soaking the Rust
Place the rust-collected objects into the acidic solution. Ensure they are fully submerged. Allow the rust to soak in the solution for several days, stirring occasionally to aid the extraction process.
Step 4: Filtering the Solution
After a few days, the acid solution turns a dark brown color, indicating extraction of iron oxide. To separate the pigment from the solution, filter the mixture using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth. The residue left behind is caput mortuum pigment.
Step 5: Drying and Storing
Spread the extracted pigment on a clean surface to dry thoroughly. Once it's dried, store the caput mortuum pigment in a sealed container away from moisture and direct sunlight.
This is an alchemy recipe from almost 2000 years ago. Then, it's kept secret, known to only a few practitioners. Today it's no secret. Because of its ancient origins caput mortuum pigment is made using simple ingredients and methods.
The practitioner is free to experiment with different ratios and concentrations to achieve the shades and consistency of this earthy purple pigment. Enjoy the creative journey.
Non-Fiction Books:
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