Experiments and Considerations Touching Colours (1664)Boyle, Robert
History
Experiments and Considerations Touching Colours (1664)
Boyle, Robert
Color -- Early works to 1800; Colors -- Early works to 1800
You may remember (_Pyrophilus_) that when I mention'd the three sorts of
adventitious Colours of Metals, I mention'd them but as the chief, not the
only. For there may be other wayes, which though they do not in so strict a
sense belong to the adventitious Colours of Metals, may not inconveniently
be reduc'd to them. And of these I shall name now a couple, without denying
that there may be more.
The first may be drawn from the practise of those that Dye Scarlet. For the
famousest Master in that Art, either in _England_ or _Holland_, has
confess'd to me, that neither others, nor he can strike that lovely Colour
which is now wont to be call'd the _Bow-Dye_, without their Materials be
Boyl'd in Vessels, either made of, or lin'd with a particular Metall. But
of what I have known attempted in this kind, I must not as yet for fear of
prejudicing or displeasing others give you any particular Account.[24]
The other way (_Pyrophilus_) of making Metals afford unobvious Colours, is
by imbuing divers Bodies with Solutions of them made in their proper
_Menstruum's_, As (for Instance) though Copper plentifully dissolv'd in
_Aqua fortis_, will imbue several Bodies with the Colour of the Solution;
Yet Some other Metalls will not (as I elsewhere tell you) and have often
try'd. Gold dissolv'd in _Aqua Regia_, will, (which is not commonly known)
Dye the Nails and Skin, and Hafts of Knives, and other things made of
Ivory, not with a Golden, but a Purple Colour, which though it manifest it
self but slowly, is very durable, and scarce ever to be wash'd out. And if
I misremember not, I have already told you in this Treatise, that the purer
Crystals of fine Silver made with _Aqua fortis_, though they appear White,
will presently Dye the Skin and Nails, with a Black, or at least a very
Dark Colour, which Water will not wash off, as it will ordinary Ink from
the same parts. And divers other Bodies may the Same way be Dy'd, some of a
Black, and others of a Blackish Colour.
[24] See the latter end of the fiftieth Experiment.
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