Maya Blue Pigment
Developed by the Maya who ruled Mesoamerica from about 290 to 900 C.E., is a remarkable pigment based on a blue dye precipitated onto clay.
Maya Blue The blue is perhaps the most striking color used by Maya artists, a color so extraordinary that it generated much research and debate among scientists for more than 50 years. What is particularly interesting about Maya Blue is that, despite long exposure to light and high humidity for centuries, it hardly fades. Its unprecedented stability, defies exposure to alkalies, acids and chemical solvents. Maya Blue is a mixture of both inorganic (paylgorskite clay) and organic (blue dye) elements—no known organic pigments today can come close to the stability of Maya Blue over so many years.
| Pigment Names | |||||||
| Common Names (rock): | English: Maya blue French: bleu de Maya German: Maya Blau Italian: azzurro di Maya Spanish: azul Maya | ||||||
| Nomenclature: |
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| Pigment Information | |
| Color: | Blue |
| Pigment Classification: | Synthetic Organic |
| Colour Index: | Pigment Blue 82 |
| Chemical Name: | – |
| Chemical Formula: | – |
| CAS No.: | – |
| Series No.: | 4 |
| ASTM Lightfastness | |
| Acrylic: | Not Listed |
| Oil: | Not Listed |
| Watercolor: | Not Listed |
| Physical Properties | |
| Particle Size (mean): | 2 microns |
| Density: | 2.00 g/cm3 |
| Hardness: | – |
| Refractive Index: | 1.56–1.662 |
| Oil Absorption: | 65 grams oil / 100 grams pigment |
| Health and Safety | There are no acute or known chronic health hazards associated with the anticipated use of this product (most chemicals are not fully tested for chronic toxicity). Always protect yourself against potentially unknown chronic hazards of this and other chemical products by keeping them out of your body. Do this by avoiding ingestion, excessive skin contact, and inhalation of spraying mists, sanding dusts and vapors from heating. Conforms to ASTM D-4236. |
For a detailed explanation of the terms in the table above, please visit Composition and Permanence.
Origin and History
Maya Blue was developed by the Maya occupying Mesoamerica for the first millennium C.E. Today, a U.S. company has unlocked the secrets of Maya Blue and patented the process to create hybrid organic/inorganic pigments based on research to find the origin of the blue color.
Source
Our Maya Blue is made by Mayan Pigments, and is based on the process they developed that recreates the Maya blue pigment found in Mesoamerican artifacts and archaelogical sites. The process involves heat-treating synthetic indigo dye with palygorskite (formerly known as attaplugite) clay.
Permanence and Compatibility
Maya Blue is remarkably stable in acids, alkalis, and solvents, so it is suitable for almost all artists' mediums, including fresco and casein.
Oil Absorption and Grinding
Maya Blue absorbs a moderately high amount of oil (65 grams of linseed oil per 100 grams of pigment) to make a paste.
Toxicity
Maya Blue is not considered toxic, however, care should be used in handling the dry powder pigment to avoid inhaling the dust.
For more information on how to handle pigments safely, please visit How to Safely Handle Art Materials and Pigments.
| SKU | 417-16 |
|---|---|
| Brand | Rublev Colours |
| Vendor | Rublev Colours |
| Processing Time | Usually ships the next business day. |
| Color | Blue |
| Pigment Type | Inorganic, Historical, Synthetic |
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.
| COUNTRY | ALPHA-2 | RATES PER PARCELS | CARRIER | |
| 0–10 kg | >10 kg–30 kg | |||
| Austria | AT | 11,50 € | 11,50 € | DPD |
| Belgium | BE | 10,95 € | 10,95 € | DPD |
| Bulgaria | BG | 20,25 € | 30,25 € | FedEx |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | BA | 49,25 € | 49,25 € | DPD |
| Cyprus | CY | 21,80 € | 29,30 € | FedEx |
| Switzerland | CH | 25,85 € | 42,98 € | FedEx |
| Czech Republic | CZ | 12,00 € | 12,00 € | DPD |
| Germany | DE | 5,50 € | 5,50 € | DPD |
| Denmark | DK | 12,00 € | 12,00 € | DPD |
| Spain | ES | 17,48 € | 28,50 € | FedEx |
| Estonia | EE | 21,70 € | 21,70 € | DPD |
| Finland | FI | 17,48 € | 28,50 € | FedEx |
| France | FR | 14,60 € | 14,60 € | DPD |
| United Kingdom | GB | – € | – € | – |
| Greece | GR | 17,48 € | 28,50 € | FedEx |
| Croatia | HR | 29,25 € | 29,25 € | DPD |
| Hungary | HU | 15,90 € | 15,90 € | DPD |
| Ireland | IE | 17,48 € | 28,50 € | FedEx |
| Iceland | IS | 30,70 € | 62,40 € | DHL |
| Italy | IT | 15,90 € | 15,90 € | DPD |
| Liechtenstein | LI | 25,85 € | 43,00 € | FedEx |
| Lithuania | LT | 21,70 € | 21,70 € | DPD |
| Luxembourg | LU | 10,95 € | 10,95 € | DPD |
| Latvia | LV | 21,70 € | 21,70 € | DPD |
| Malta | MT | 21,80 € | 30,25 € | FedEx |
| Monaco | MC | 15,95 € | 24,30 € | FedEx |
| Netherlands | NL | 10,95 € | 10,95 € | DPD |
| Norway | NO | 25,85 € | 43,00 € | FedEx |
| Poland | PL | 14,90 € | 14,90 € | DPD |
| Portugal | PT | 15,50 € | 15,50 € | DPD |
| Romania | RO | 21,80 € | 30,25 € | FedEx |
| Serbia | RS | 49,25 € | 49,25 € | DPD |
| Slovakia | SK | 15,90 € | 15,90 € | DPD |
| Slovenia | SI | 15,90 € | 15,90 € | DPD |
| Sweden | SE | 15,90 € | 15,90 € | DPD |
| Turkey | TR | 27,30 € | 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 €
Tracking
For tracking details, please log in to your Natural Pigments account.
We track all orders where a tracked delivery service has been selected.
We will update your order with the tracking information if the shipping carrier provides a tracking number. You can locate the tracking number for your order in the shipping confirmation email you receive when your order is shipped. (Look for the email with the subject line "Natural Pigments: Shipment # xxxxxxxxx for Order # xxxxxxxxx.") You can also find the tracking number by signing into your account and visiting My Account Dashboard under Recent Orders.
VAT for Orders within the European Union
VAT is not included in prices unless specified on the website as VAT INCLUSIVE. VAT is calculated for Germany at 19% on both order subtotal and shipping cost and is added to the order grand total.
VAT, Duties, and Tariffs for Orders Outside of the European Union
VAT is not included in prices and totals unless specified on the website as VAT INCLUSIVE. Duties, tariffs, and customs broker fees are not included in the prices and totals on the website. These charges are in addition to what you will pay when ordering. These charges originate in the delivery country, so please contact your local customs for more information.
Shipping Rates
The rate charged for the shipping of your order is based on the weight of your products and your location. Before the final checkout page, you will be shown what the shipping cost will be, and you will have a chance to abandon your order if you decide not to place it.
Shipping Damage
For shipping damage, customers should file a claim with the carrier immediately. Any discrepancy, including wrong or missing items, should be reported to Natural Pigments within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt.
Back Orders
We do not accept backorders for out-of-stock items. If you order an out-of-stock item, we will email you when we expect that product to be available. You will be among the first to receive the item when it becomes available. Natural Pigments will not charge your credit card for out-of-stock items.
