ear-wax-msg - 10/3/00
Use of ear wax in period.
NOTE: See also the files: urine-uses-msg, pigments-msg, calligraphy-msg, inks-msg, glues-msg, horn-msg, bone-msg, fur-msg.
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Date: Tue, 21 Sep 1999 02:34:23 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Jack C. Thompson" <tcl at teleport.com>
To: sca-arts at raven.cc.ukans.edu
Subject: Ear wax
>> Cennini talks about the uses of ear wax.
>
>For what?
From D.V. Thompson's _Materials of Medieval Painting_ :
"The other important auxiliary addition to the main binding media in books
is ear wax. When white of egg is first beaten, it becomes a froth. When
this is allowed to stand, it distills into a clear liquid, glair. But if
this liquid is very much disturbed as, for example, by grinding colours
with it, it tends to get frothy again and to develp little air bubbles
which make little holes in the mixtures after they dry.
"Someone, somehow, discovered that adding a little ear wax would keep these
bubbles from forming, presumably by changing the surface tension of the
mixture. This curious bit of knowledge spread all over Europe, and
affected the practice of illuminators everywhere.
"Its chief importance was in tempering vermillion and in preparing gold
grounds."
Jack C. Thompson
Thompson Conservation Laboratory
Portland, OR 97217
<the end>