siba sahabi revives the first man-made pigment in blue alchemy collection

referencing the first man-made pigment that was developed as early as 2600 bc, ‘blue alchemy’ is the latest bright blue edition of siba sahabi’s iconic felt vases. the ancient egyptians held the color blue in very high regard because it was considered the color of life, fertility, and rebirth. since the semiprecious blue stone lapis lazuli was rare and extremely expensive, craftsmen desired to imitate the hue. the discovery of the first synthetic pigment emerged from the production of glazed ceramics because the raw materials (silica, lime, copper, and alkali) were the same. 

the vases are up to 50 cm in height
all images by lisa klappe

following its discovery, the use of the synthetic pigment spread throughout mesopotamia, greece, and the far reaches of the roman empire. ‘egyptian blue’ had a strong influence on european art and was applied to, amongst others, the wall paintings of pompeii. after the roman era ‘egyptian blue’ fell from use and the process of its creation was forgotten.

the objects are made from coiled colored felt strips coated with a layer of paint on both sides

with her collection of seven felt vases entitled ‘blue alchemy’, siba sahabi revives the ‘egyptian blue’ and takes us back to an ancient pottery workshop that served as a laboratory for alchemical experiments. siba’s vases are made by hand from coiled colored felt strips. an enlarged glass tube is placed in each felt vase allowing it to hold water. 

each object shows three colors: the original one of the felt (surface of the ridges), the inside, and outside

the ancient egyptians held the color blue in very high regard because it was considered the color of life, fertility, and rebirth

with her collection, siba revives the pigment and takes us back to an ancient pottery workshop

an enlarged glass tube is placed in each felt vase allowing it to hold water

after the roman era ‘egyptian blue’ fell from use and the process of its creation was forgotten 

the discovery of the first synthetic pigment emerged from the production of glazed ceramics because the raw materials (silica, lime, copper, and alkali) were the same

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