Lead-Tin Yellow Pigment

Description
Lead-Tin Yellow Type I is a bright, opaque light yellow pigment made by heating lead oxide with tin dioxide. Type I is slightly cooler and paler than Type II, leaning toward a crisp, clean yellow with excellent opacity and covering strength.

It is dense and buttery in application, mixes beautifully with vermilion, ochres, and earth pigments, and is especially valued for its ability to create glowing highlights and luminous flesh tones. In fresco and oil it provides unmatched brilliance compared to natural earth yellows.

History
This pigment was one of the first synthetic yellows in Europe, used extensively between the 14th and 17th centuries. It appears in works by Giotto, Titian, and Vermeer, among many others. Its permanence and opacity made it a favorite for tempera panel painting, fresco, and early oil techniques.

By the 18th century, Lead-Tin Yellow fell out of use, replaced by Naples Yellow and later Chrome Yellow. For centuries the method of production was lost, and the pigment was forgotten — sometimes misidentified in paintings as massicot or Naples Yellow. It wasn’t until the 20th century that chemists rediscovered its true composition and restored it to use for historical reconstructions and conservation. In the pictured artwork "The Milkmaid" by Vermeer, Lead-Tin Yellow is used for the soft glowing yellow of the Millkmaid's upper tunic.

Today, Lead-Tin Yellow Type I is once again available, prized by conservators and artists for its historical authenticity, stability, and unmatched soft hue.

Pigment Information
Pigment Type: Synthetic Inorganic
Chemical Composition: Pb₂SnO₄ (Lead Stannate, Type I)
Suitable Mediums: Oil, Watercolor, Tempera, Fresco, Acrylic, Encaustic
Lightfastness: Excellent
Opacity: Opaque
Other Names: Giallorino, Yellow Frit, Renaissance Yellow
Color Index Code: N/A
Image: "The Milkmaid" by Vermeer from the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Health and Safety
For art use only. Not for cosmetic, food or children's use.
Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not eat, drink or smoke while working.
Avoid creating or breathing dust. Work in a ventilated area and wear a NIOSH approved dust respirator (P100 or better) when handling dry pigment.
Wear gloves and eye protection. Wash hands and work surfaces after use, and never rinse pigment into drains.
Do not spray apply, sand or burn.
If swallowed or if you feel unwell, contact a poison control center (U.S. 1-800-222-1222) or a doctor.
Safety Data Sheet available on request.

Caution: Contains lead. Harmful if swallowed or inhaled. May cause cancer. May damage fertility or the unborn child and may harm breastfed children. Causes damage to the nervous system, blood and kidneys through prolonged or repeated exposure. Not for use by children or by anyone pregnant, planning a pregnancy or nursing. Never sand, spray, burn or heat dry paint. Wash hands, nails and work surfaces thoroughly after use and keep away from food. Very toxic to aquatic life; never rinse into drains. Wear a P100 respirator (full face, or half face with goggles) when handling the dry pigment; N95 and P95 masks are not sufficient.

WARNING: This product can expose you to lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.