The manufacture of earth colours

by Josef Bersch

Pearl White

The preparation frequently met with in commerce under this name is nothing more than a burnt lime of great purity. It is prepared in the coastal districts by burning oyster shells, the resulting burnt lime being easily transformed into a fine powder, the pure white colour of which is due to the absence of iron. It is used in the same way as pure burnt lime, and is mainly of interest in seaside towns where oyster shells are often accumulated. It may be pointed out that the name pearl white is often applied also to pure white grades of white lead.