Sap Green is a deep, yellowish-green lake pigment extracted from the unripe berries of the buckthorn shrub. The UK's native buckthorn (Rhamnus species) grows in damp woodlands, chalky scrublands, and coastal hedgerows, and is considered an invasive weed. A lake pigment is created by precipitating the colour of a liquid dye with an inactive base to make an insoluble pigment. The result is fine crystals which are ground into a powder.
The yellow-green colour ‘Sap Green’ was first recorded as a textile dye, extracted from the berries of Buckthorn trees, during the Ancient Roman period (roughly 27 BCE to the 5th century AD). The purple juice from the berries was mixed with acids (e.g. lime) to extract yellow and green dyes, the general rule being unripe buckthorn berries produced green shades, while ripe ones, and the bark, produced yellow.
The dye could be taken one step further and turned into a lake pigment, to use with binders for paint. The yellow variety of Buckthorn lake has many names including Stil de Grain or Pink(e) (before the 17th century the word ‘pink’ referred to a yellow-brown), Persian Berries and Avignon berries.
USE: This pigment can be used immediately as a dried powder rubbed onto the substrate, or it can be mixed with a variety of binders, including but not limited to, gum arabic, linseed oil, gum tragacanth, setting agents, and encaustic wax medium. For paint-making, I recommend mulling your pigment into the binder with a muller and grinding slab, this results in a very fine, smooth paint.
HEALTH & SAFETY: Sap Green is not considered hazardous, but I advise wearing a mask when airborne.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: This is a handmade product that has been harvested, precipitated, ground and sieved. Be aware there may be slight variations in shade from batch to batch. Sap Green will fade over time.
Sap Green is packaged in corked and waxed, 30ml glass vials.
SHIPPING TO AMERICA: Buyers shipping to America are responsible for any tariffs, duties and fees that may apply.
