The Lucky Pigment Vermillion 1 I developed an interest in the pigment vermilion, the powdered pigment obtained by crushing the mineral cinnabar, while I was researching the composition of my red stick of sealing wax (4). Sealing wax has been used to create wax seals upon documents since the Roman times. The seals were used to seal paper documents shut while serving as a safety measure to protect against tampering. The first documented seals were black seals made of asphalt. As time passed, wax seals replaced these asphalt seals. Pigments and fragrant compounds were added to wax to create seals that were used with wax stamps or personal stamps from the bearer s signet rings that contained their initials or their family s coat-of-arms. Wax seals are now considered a ceremonial component to mail since most envelopes have built-in adhesive strips to serve as seals. These wax seals which were once a necessity when sending mail in the medieval times now cost extra postage when used upon standard envelopes. The reason they cost extra is because envelope with wax seals must be processed by hand while most standard envelopes are processed by machine. Sealing wax is now available in a variety of colors from the traditional red and black to metallic colors of gold and silver that contain specs of mica that sparkle in the light. In America, sealing wax and tools for creating wax seals may be found in the wedding section of art stores because they have become an integral part of sending out save-the-date invitations. However, proper etiquette indicates that only the traditional colors of red and black should be used in formal correspondence. In this paper, I will discuss the historical red pigment vermillion.
2 Vermillion has been used in human embalming and is responsible for coloring items red since the ancient times (3). In Asia, vermillion was used to color Chinese lacquerware. Red symbolizes luck and prosperity in the Chinese culture and has been used during the Lunar New Year, weddings, and celebrations to symbolize luck and prosperity. Chinese families pass out red envelopes filled with money and paste red paper cutouts of the character 囍 (double happiness) upside-down during these times. This symbolizes the hastening of good things to come. In Indian culture, vermillion is known as sindoor and used to symbolize fertility and abundance when used to create dots upon the foreheads of women (2). In European culture, red symbolizes strength and glory of the elite class. The color red has been found upon the robes of royal officials, gladiators, and grace the lips of women who wear it while knowing of its toxicity. Vermillion has been featured in European paintings such as upon Virgin Mary s robes (1). Vermillion, also spelled vermilion, originates from mineral cinnabar. Its chemical formula is HgS, known as mercuric sulfide. Its IUPAC name is mercury (II) sulfide. Cinnabar was mined until synthetic processes were created. The Romans have been known to obtain cinnabar through Spain. There have been documents that warn buyers to purchase cinnabar in solid forms instead of purchasing it in ground or powdered form to avoid adulterated product. The Dutch invented a process to synthetically create vermillion until another less toxic form of red pigment called cadmium red became widely used instead. Artists now have the choice of choosing a variety of red pigments to use from the organic reds of the
3 cochineal bugs and those derived from the madder root to the synthetic reds derived from cadmium and iron oxides. In modern times, our chemical companies have found a few ways to create synthetic versions of creating alpha-mercury(ii) sulfide instead of mining for the toxic compound. This molecule is now used in research with quantum dots (5). Vermillion contains mercury (Hg) that is toxic to humans and also to the environment. If you look on a tube of paint that was manufactured in the USA, there is usually a circle with an ACMI AP rating that indicates the toxicity level of the pigment within. The displays within art stores will indicate the toxicity with different levels and ratings. One may also visit the brand s website to check the toxicity level of each tube of paint. Due to its toxicity, the last place to find vermillion pigment paint is within Chinese paint sets where its cultural history has given it its permanent seat. Mercuric sulfide, or mercury (II) sulfide, is an ionic compound. It is formed from a metal, mercury, and a nonmetal, sulfur. Mercury (II), Hg 2+, is a cation while sulfur is an anion, known as S 2-, sulfide. Its molecular weight is 232.66 g/mol, since mercury is 200.59 grams per mole and sulfur is 32.07 grams per mole. The information from this chemistry course helped me learn the basics of vermillion and the research basics allowed me to perform better searches.
References 4 1. Finlay, Victoria. Color: A Natural History of the Palette. New York: Ballantine, 2002. Print. <http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/b00l2dmwhi> 2. Hunter, Jennifer. "What's the Deal With Vermilion? A Brief History of a Very Old Color" Apartment Therapy.com. 5 Nov. 2013. Web. 14 Mar. 2016. <www.apartmenttherapy.com/whats-the-deal-with-vermilion-a-briefhistory-of-a-very-old-color-196644>. 3. Martín-Gil, J., Martín-Gil, F.J., Delibes-de-Castro, G., Zapatero-Magdaleno, P., Sarabia-Herrero, F.J. "The First Known Use of Vermillion". Experientia. August 1995. 51(8) 759-761. DOI: 10.1007/BF01922425. <https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/bf01922425 >. 4. "The Definition of Vermillion." Dictionary.com. The Random House Dictionary, 2016. Web. 14 Mar. 2016. <http://www.dictionary.com/browse/vermillion>. 5. Wichiansee, W., Nordin, M., Green, M., and Curry, R. Synthesis and optical characterization of infra-red emitting mercury sulfide (HgS) quantum dots. J. Mater. Chem., 2011,21, 7331-7336. DOI: 10.1039/C1JM10363F.
5 Attachments Figure 1: Wax seal stamped with a rose wax stamper Figure 2: These are the tools I used to create the rose wax seal. I used waterproof matches, red sealing wax, a wax stamper, and a small tea light candle. I am practicing my calligraphy lately so I have my calligraphy pen and writing on a steno notebook.
6 Figure 3: These are the backs of the envelopes I am mailing out to my friends that have rose wax seals on them Figure 4: Another shot of the materials I used while working with the sealing wax
Figure 5: Vermillion pigment, photo from Google 7