GUM ARABIC. A brief history.
GUM ARABIC HISTORY
By Lady Symonne de la Croix
26.3.20
Gum arabic, also called acacia gum, is made from the sap of the Acacia senegal tree, or gum acacia. The sap is a cold water soluble polysaccharide. In its gum form, it thins out as temperature rises.
During the stone age, it was used as a food and an adhesive.
Japanese and Chinese used acacia gum for painting as early 4000 B.C.
Other documented usages have shown that in Ancient Egypt (around 2650 B.C) it was used in the preparationof inks, paints and dyes.
It was the pigment binder for paints used to make hierglyphs and ancient inscriptions refer to it as "kami".
Gum arabic was used in the mummification process to adhere the bandage wrappings. It is known that Cleopatra ordered recipes prepared with acacia gum for her favourite lipstick.
Ancient Greek writings (especially in the writings of philosophers Pliny and Theophrastis) mention its use to relieve discomfort of blisters, burns, ulcers and to stop nosebleeds.
In the Christian era, the uses kept expanding as the gum can also be found in Europe. From helping with hemorrhages and leech bites to reducing inflammation of the bone marrow.
Acacia gum became became an article of commerce as early as the 1st century.
It was initially called "Gum Arabic", in reference to its arabic origins. It then became "acacia gum", to underline its natural origin.
By the middle ages it was valued among scribes and illuminators and was widely found in manuscripts.
It was commonly used to temper pigments so they would adhere to the substrate (as it is still used today in the preparation of watercolour and gouache paint) and in the preparation of ink so it would 'stick' to the paper.
Cenni describes its use in putting lights on with lead white on tinted paper (p18), and parchment (p.8), for use with shell gold(p.102) and mixing with the dye from clothlets (p.103)
In the Goettingen Model Book (dating from the mid-15th century and originally belonging to a monastry) gum water is mentioned exclusively as the binder used.
Bibliography
•Thompson, Daniel V. 'Il Libro dell'Arte'. Yale University Press. 1954
•Grant, Bonnie L. What is Acacia Gum: Acacia Gum Uses and History.
www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/acacia/acacia-gum-acacia-gum-uses-history.htm
•Robert, &Allen
www.allendetrobert/acacia-gum-history-ancient-gum
•Goettingen Model Book. www.gutenbergdigital.de/gudi/eframes/texte/framere/mubu_1.htm
By Lady Symonne de la Croix
26.3.20
Gum arabic, also called acacia gum, is made from the sap of the Acacia senegal tree, or gum acacia. The sap is a cold water soluble polysaccharide. In its gum form, it thins out as temperature rises.
During the stone age, it was used as a food and an adhesive.
Japanese and Chinese used acacia gum for painting as early 4000 B.C.
Other documented usages have shown that in Ancient Egypt (around 2650 B.C) it was used in the preparationof inks, paints and dyes.
It was the pigment binder for paints used to make hierglyphs and ancient inscriptions refer to it as "kami".
Gum arabic was used in the mummification process to adhere the bandage wrappings. It is known that Cleopatra ordered recipes prepared with acacia gum for her favourite lipstick.
Ancient Greek writings (especially in the writings of philosophers Pliny and Theophrastis) mention its use to relieve discomfort of blisters, burns, ulcers and to stop nosebleeds.
In the Christian era, the uses kept expanding as the gum can also be found in Europe. From helping with hemorrhages and leech bites to reducing inflammation of the bone marrow.
Acacia gum became became an article of commerce as early as the 1st century.
It was initially called "Gum Arabic", in reference to its arabic origins. It then became "acacia gum", to underline its natural origin.
By the middle ages it was valued among scribes and illuminators and was widely found in manuscripts.
It was commonly used to temper pigments so they would adhere to the substrate (as it is still used today in the preparation of watercolour and gouache paint) and in the preparation of ink so it would 'stick' to the paper.
Cenni describes its use in putting lights on with lead white on tinted paper (p18), and parchment (p.8), for use with shell gold(p.102) and mixing with the dye from clothlets (p.103)
In the Goettingen Model Book (dating from the mid-15th century and originally belonging to a monastry) gum water is mentioned exclusively as the binder used.
Bibliography
•Thompson, Daniel V. 'Il Libro dell'Arte'. Yale University Press. 1954
•Grant, Bonnie L. What is Acacia Gum: Acacia Gum Uses and History.
www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/acacia/acacia-gum-acacia-gum-uses-history.htm
•Robert, &Allen
www.allendetrobert/acacia-gum-history-ancient-gum
•Goettingen Model Book. www.gutenbergdigital.de/gudi/eframes/texte/framere/mubu_1.htm
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