Maya Blue Pigment

Maya Blue is perhaps the most striking color used by Maya artists, so extraordinary that it generated extensive research and debate among scientists for more than 50 years. What is particularly interesting about Maya Blue is that, despite centuries of exposure to light and high humidity, 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.

For a detailed explanation of the terms in the table above, please visit the Composition and Permanence page.

Origin and History

Maya Blue was developed by the Maya occupying Mesoamerica during the first millennium C.E. Today, a U.S. company has unlocked the secrets of Maya Blue and patented a process to create hybrid organic/inorganic pigments, based on research into the origin of the blue color.

Source

Our Maya Blue is made by Mayan Pigments and is based on the process they developed to recreate the Maya blue pigment found in Mesoamerican artifacts and archaeological sites. The process involves heat-treating synthetic indigo dye with palygorskite (formerly known as attapulgite) clay.

Permanence and Compatibility

Maya Blue is remarkably stable in acids, alkalis, and solvents, making it suitable for almost all artists’ media, 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 taken when handling the dry-powder pigment to avoid inhaling dust.

For more information on how to handle pigments safely, please visit How to Safely Handle Art Materials and Pigments.