Cassel Earth Pigment

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SKU
481-12

Cassel Earth is a pigment of a deep semi-opaque brownish-black color, similar to the color used by Anthony van Dyke in his paintings. This Cassel earth is a blend of natural iron oxides and umber imported from Italy.

Cassel Earth is a pigment of a deep semi-opaque brownish-black color, similar to the pigment used by Rubens and Anthony Van Dyke in their paintings. Rublev Colours Cassel Earth is imported from Italy.

Pigment Names
Common Names:English: Cassel brown, Cassel earth, Cassel umber, Cologne brown, Cologne earth, Cologne umber, Cullen earth, Kassel earth, Rubens brown, Van Dyck brown, Van Dyke brown, Vandyke brown
French: terre de Cassel, terre de Cologne
German: Kasslerbraun, Kasseler Erde, Kölnische Erde, Van Dyck Braun
Italian: terra di Cassel, terra di Colonia
Spanish: tierra de Cassel, carmelita Van Dyck


Origin and History

Cassel earth, also known as Vandyke brown and Cologne earth, contains iron and manganese oxides and lignites, organic substances from peat or coal. It was first used in European painting in the 17th century and is still used today. This color is found in the pictures of the old masters, among them Rubens, who used it mixed with yellow ochre as a warm, transparent brown, which held up remarkably well in resin varnish.

Source

A brown earthy substance found in peat and lignite beds and used as a pigment; originally found near Cassel, Germany. Cologne brown or Cologne earth is a similar substance found initially near Cologne, Germany. The brown earth has since been obtained from various localities, which may differ slightly in color and composition. To add to this confusion, some pigments labeled Cassel earth or Vandyke brown are bituminous earth, typically composed of lignites. In contrast, other pigments labeled with these names are artificial pigments made from carbon black and iron oxide mixtures. When natural Cassel earth is ignited, the pigment leaves a soft gray residue. It is not soluble in petroleum solvents like bitumen. Lignite, also known as brown coal, is a brownish-black, heterogeneous mixture of compounds that have high inherent moisture and high ash content compared with bituminous coal. They are prone to alter color over time when exposed to light and humidity.

Rublev Colours Cassel Earth is a blend of natural iron oxides and burnt umber sourced from varied locales, notably Italy and Cyprus. The meticulous processing of this composite involves drying, pulverizing, and grinding to simulate the color and properties of genuine Cassel earth with exceptional precision. This thorough mixture ensures that the mixed pigment achieves the desired hue and upholds the distinctive characteristics associated with genuine Cassel earth.

Permanence and Compatibility

The blend of minerals composing Cassel earth is considered to be among the most permanent pigments on the artist's palette. The lignite portion of genuine Cassel earth has limited lightfastness, chemical resistance, and heat stability. Cassel earth (the lignite portion) is partially soluble in oil and may exhibit a slight tendency to turn gray (most apparent when mixed with whites). When used in an oil paint layer coated with spirit varnish or mixed with resin varnish, it is more permanent than when used in oil alone. It is sensitive to alkalis and becomes a cold gray in fresco. It can be used in oil, egg tempera, and watercolor but should not be used in fresco and casein tempera painting techniques. Unlike genuine Cassel earth, this blend from Itlay has no issues with permanence or incompatibilities with other pigments.

Oil Absorption and Grinding

Cassel earth absorbs a moderate to a large amount of oil, is a medium to slow dryer in oil paint, and forms a good film. The oil absorption ratio is 60–70 parts by weight of linseed oil to 100 parts by weight of pigment. Cassel Earth requires 60–70 grams of linseed oil to grind 100 grams of pigment to form a stiff paste if the measurement were grams. The pigment absorbs the oil with difficulty, so it is best to let the oil and pigment remain in contact overnight before grinding with a muller. The mixture before grinding may be quite thin, but after grinding, it will stiffen to a jelly-like consistency, which is the nearest state to a paste possible with this pigment. The finished paint may subsequently soften and become more fluid. Using boiled oils does not remedy this situation. From 25 to 50% of the weight of pigment of terra alba may be added to improve the physical characteristics of Cassel earth.

Colour Index

The Colour Index (Third Edition 1997) lists Van Dyke Brown or Cassel Earth as Natural Brown 8 (NBr 8) and lists Pigment Brown 7 (PBr 7) as iron oxides (the natural form usually also contains iron oxides and clays). This pigment primarily consists of iron oxide with smaller amounts of manganese oxide. This makes classifying this natural pigment difficult, which seems to be a common point of confusion among pigment and paint manufacturers. We have provided the Colour Index Generic Names (CIGN) of the latest component of this blend to assist its identification since many natural pigments are not pure compounds but mixtures.

Toxicity

Cassel earth is not considered toxic; however, one of its components, manganese oxide, is moderately toxic, and care should be used in handling the dry powder pigment so as not to inhale the dust.

Pigment Information
Color:Brown Black
Colour Index:Pigment Brown 7 (PBr 7)
Chemical Name:Iron hydroxide and manganese oxide
Chemical Formula:FeOOH, MnO2 (primary components)
ASTM Lightfastness Rating
Acrylic:I
Oil:I
Watercolor:I
Properties
Density:1.66
Hardness:
Refractive Index:1.9 (See Note 1)
Oil Absorption:60-70 g linseed oil/100 g pigment


Notes

1. The refractive index is based on the measured refractive index of umber, as discussed in A. Adam, P. Planken, S. Meloni, and J. Dik, "TeraHertz imaging of hidden paint layers on canvas," Optical Express 17, 3407-3416 (2009). Last accessed August 9, 1023.

More Information
SKU481-12
BrandRublev Colours
VendorRublev Colours
Processing TimeUsually ships the next business day.
ColorBlack
Pigment TypeInorganic, Earth, Natural

Health & Safety: There are no acute or known chronic health hazards with the anticipated use of this product (most chemicals are not thoroughly tested for chronic toxicity). Protect yourself against potentially unknown chronic hazards of this and other chemical products by avoiding ingestion, excessive skin contact, and inhaling spraying mists, sanding dust, and concentrated vapors from heating. Contact us for further information or consult the SDS for more information. Conforms to ASTM D-4236.

Order Processing

If the Processing Time for items in your order is "Usually ships within 24-48 hours", your order will usually be processed within 48 hours of receipt Monday through Friday. Orders received during weekends and holidays will be processed on the next business (working) day. Orders with longer processing times will be shipped when all items become available.

Shipping Rates

Please add your desired items and the delivery address to your basket to determine the exact shipping costs and options. The table below provides shipping rates for different weights to the countries we ship to.

Carriers

We use the following carriers to deliver orders:

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Below is an approximate guide to shipping costs for locations in Europe. Rates may change without notice.

COUNTRYALPHA-2RATES PER PARCELSCARRIER
0–10 kg>10 kg–30 kg
AustriaAT11,50 €11,50 €DPD
BelgiumBE10,95 €10,95 €DPD
BulgariaBG20,25 €30,25 €FedEx
Bosnia and HerzegovinaBA49,25 €49,25 €DPD
CyprusCY21,80 €29,30 €FedEx
SwitzerlandCH25,85 €42,98 €FedEx
Czech RepublicCZ12,00 €12,00 €DPD
GermanyDE5,50 €5,50 €DPD
DenmarkDK12,00 €12,00 €DPD
SpainES17,48 €28,50 €FedEx
EstoniaEE21,70 €21,70 €DPD
FinlandFI17,48 €28,50 €FedEx
FranceFR14,60 €14,60 €DPD
United KingdomGB– €– €
GreeceGR17,48 €28,50 €FedEx
CroatiaHR29,25 €29,25 €DPD
HungaryHU15,90 €15,90 €DPD
IrelandIE17,48 €28,50 €FedEx
IcelandIS30,70 €62,40 €DHL
ItalyIT15,90 €15,90 €DPD
LiechtensteinLI25,85 €43,00 €FedEx
LithuaniaLT21,70 €21,70 €DPD
LuxembourgLU10,95 €10,95 €DPD
LatviaLV21,70 €21,70 €DPD
MaltaMT21,80 €30,25 €FedEx
MonacoMC15,95 €24,30 €FedEx
NetherlandsNL10,95 €10,95 €DPD
NorwayNO25,85 €43,00 €FedEx
PolandPL14,90 €14,90 €DPD
PortugalPT15,50 €15,50 €DPD
RomaniaRO21,80 €30,25 €FedEx
SerbiaRS49,25 €49,25 €DPD
SlovakiaSK15,90 €15,90 €DPD
SloveniaSI15,90 €15,90 €DPD
SwedenSE15,90 €15,90 €DPD
TurkeyTR27,30 €46,20 €FedEx


Note: Countries in RED type are not members of the European Union.


Postal Service

Shipping (EU and non-EU countries):

Up to 500 grams Tracked: 6,85 €

Up to 1000 grams Tracked: 10,45 €

Up to 2000 grams Tracked: 20,50 €


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Shipping Rates

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Cassel Earth Pigment
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