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Ochre or Ocher (pronounced //, from the Greek ochros, yellow) is a color, usually described as golden-yellow or light yellow brown.
Pigment As a painting pigment it exists in at least four forms: For further information, see the articles on the individual ochres. They are found throughout the world in many shades. Many sources consider the best brown ochre to come from Cyprus, and the best yellow and red ochre from Roussillon, France. All have been used since prehistoric times, and are some of oldest pigments used. Industry When the mineral was found in Brixham it became a very important part of the developing fishing industry. This gave the old fishing boats their "Red Sails in the Sunset", but the purpose was to protect the canvas from seawater, not to be picturesque. It was boiled in great caldrons, together with tar, tallow and oak bark, the last ingredient giving the name of barking yards to the places where the hot mixture was painted on to the sails, which were then hung up to dry. The ochre was also used to make a very special paint. This was invented in Brixham in about 1845 and was the first substance in the world that would stop cast iron from rusting. None of the well-known scientists of the day could find a way of doing this, and, when the paint began to be made here, it sold all round the globe. See also | ||||||||
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