Pagoda Tree Lake Pigment

Description
Pagoda Tree Lake is a handmade natural lake pigment made from the flower buds of the Japanese pagoda tree (Styphnolobium japonicum, formerly Sophora japonica), precipitated with alum. It produces a bright, clean, slightly warm yellow with a transparent, glowing quality. Its color comes from rutin and quercetin, flavonoid colorants closely related to those in weld.

In use, Pagoda Tree Lake gives luminous, transparent yellows for glazing, foliage, illumination and warm toning, and it mixes with blues for rich, natural greens. It works best in watercolor, gouache, tempera and oil glazes, where its transparency shows well. Like most plant yellows it is only moderately lightfast, so finished work should be framed under UV protective glass or UV varnish and kept out of strong sunlight. It is not suitable for fresco.

History
The dried buds of the pagoda tree, known in China as huaimi, have been one of the most important yellow dyes of East Asia for well over a thousand years. They were used to dye silk yellow and, overdyed with indigo, green, and analyses of Ming and Qing dynasty silks have identified pagoda tree buds in many yellow textiles, including court robes. The same colorant was made into lake pigments for painting.

Pigment Information
Pigment Type: Natural (Organic) plant lake
Source: Flavonoid colorants (rutin and quercetin) from pagoda tree flower buds (Styphnolobium japonicum) on an alum base
Origin: China
Suitable Mediums: Watercolor, Gouache, Oil, Tempera, Acrylic, Encaustic, Ink
Lightfastness: Fair
Opacity: Transparent
Other Names: Sophora Yellow, Huaimi Yellow, Japanese Pagoda Tree Yellow, Chinese Scholar Tree Yellow
Color Index Code: N/A

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.