Nihonga Materials: Mineral Pigments, Shell White and Gold Leaf
Nihonga, Japanese-style painting, was named in the Meiji era to distinguish traditional techniques from yōga, Western-style oil painting. What makes a nihonga painting look the way it does is its materials: pigments ground from stone, white made from shell, glue made from hide, and leaf of gold and silver. Understanding them helps collectors judge condition and care for a work.
Mineral pigments
The characteristic colours of nihonga come from iwa-enogu, pigments ground from minerals and graded by particle size. Coarser grains give deeper, more textured colour; finer grains give paler, smoother tones.
- Azurite for deep blues.
- Malachite for greens.
- Cinnabar and other minerals for reds and oranges.
- Ochres and earths for browns and yellows.
Many modern painters also use synthetic mineral-like pigments made from coloured glass.
Gofun
White in nihonga is gofun, made from ground and weathered shells, traditionally oyster or scallop. It is kneaded with glue into a paste and applied in layers, giving a soft, matte whiteness. Gofun is also used for underlayers and for the faces of dolls.
Nikawa
Pigments have no binding power of their own. They are mixed with nikawa, an animal-hide glue, dissolved in warm water. The balance of glue and pigment affects how the paint adheres, and over time nikawa can weaken, which is why old nihonga can flake.
Supports and leaf
Nihonga is painted on silk or Japanese paper, often mounted on panels or as hanging scrolls and screens. Gold and silver leaf, and fine strips of cut leaf called kirikane, add light. Silver leaf darkens over time to a soft grey or black, a change many collectors value.
Care
- Keep humidity steady. Rapid changes cause glue to weaken and pigment to flake.
- Avoid touching the surface. Mineral pigment can powder at a touch.
- Light: mineral colours are relatively stable, but silk and paper are not; limit exposure.
- Restoration: consolidation of flaking pigment is specialist work.
Questions collectors ask
Why do nihonga paintings shimmer?
Mineral pigments are crystalline and reflect light from many tiny facets.
Is flaking serious?
It can be. Ask for close photographs of any area of loss and avoid moving the work unnecessarily.