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Rs 80,000 For 1 Gram! World’s Most Expensive Colour - And No, It's Not Gold Or Silver
Rs 80,000 For 1 Gram! World’s Most Expensive Colour - And No, It's Not Gold Or Silver
Colours have never been merely decorative or confined to festivals like Holi. Across centuries, they have symbolised civilisation, religion, artistic excellence and political power. Some pigments were once valued more highly than gold and silver. Among the most extraordinary of these is ultramarine blue, derived from Lapis Lazuli.
It is said that one gram of pure, natural ultramarine made from Lapis Lazuli can cost Rs 80,000 or even more.
Lapis Lazuli is not simply a pigment but a precious stone. It is known for its deep, luminous blue shade, often flecked with golden specks caused by the mineral pyrite, giving it the appearance of a star-filled night sky.
Historians trace the oldest Lapis Lazuli mines to the Badakhshan region of Afghanistan. From there, the stone travelled thousands of years ago to ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and eventually Europe, becoming one of the earliest internationally traded minerals.
The term ‘ultramarine’ comes from the Latin word ‘Ultramarinus’, meaning ‘from across the sea’. Since Lapis Lazuli was not found in Europe and had to be imported from Asia, it was extraordinarily expensive.
During medieval times, transforming the stone into pigment was an intricate and time-consuming process. The stone was finely ground and repeatedly purified using oils and chemical treatments to extract the pure blue colour. Even a tiny quantity required immense effort, which added to its high price.
Between the 14th and 16th centuries, ultramarine held special importance in European religious paintings. It was frequently used to colour the robes of Mother Mary, symbolising purity, reverence and divinity.
Renowned artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo used this pigment in their masterpieces. Because ultramarine was many times more expensive than other colours, artists often demanded additional payment from patrons when using it.
Even today, when produced traditionally from pure Lapis Lazuli, natural ultramarine commands a premium price. The reasons include:
In the 19th century, scientists developed a synthetic version of ultramarine, making the colour widely accessible. However, natural ultramarine remains a luxury product, prized in elite art circles.
Ultramarine is not alone in its extraordinary history. Several other pigments were once incredibly expensive:
Following the Industrial Revolution and advancements in chemical science, affordable synthetic pigments were developed. This transformed the art world, freeing artists from dependence on rare stones or costly biological sources.
Despite this shift, traditional artists and collectors often regard natural pigments as superior, citing their unmatched depth, luminosity and texture compared to synthetic alternatives.
Lapis Lazuli is among the world’s oldest traded minerals. From Egyptian pharaohs to Renaissance masters in Europe, it has held immense significance. It represents not just a colour, but centuries of religion, politics and artistic expression.
The high cost of ultramarine is not merely a matter of chemistry. It reflects cultural heritage, historical trade routes and the power structures of past civilisations. Purple once signified royalty, blue symbolised divinity, and colours themselves carried political and economic meaning.
Today, even though inexpensive synthetic pigments are widely available, the brilliance and prestige of natural ultramarine endure. When a colour costs more than Rs 80,000 per gram, it ceases to be merely a pigment; it becomes a piece of history. And Lapis Lazuli remains its radiant blue chapter.
Source: News18
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