The World's Most Expensive Color: How Artworks Become Priceless Treasures
Have you ever wondered about the secret behind the world's most expensive color?
The natural blue, derived from the rare lapis lazuli stone, is regarded as one of the rarest and most valuable colors in the art world.
While its price may be staggering—$450 for a small 250-milliliter container—there is a rationale behind its high cost.
* What makes this unique color so rare and valuable?
The natural blue, primarily sourced from Afghanistan, has long been a symbol of wealth and uniqueness.
During the Middle Ages, this color was more expensive than gold and was considered one of the most costly materials, used exclusively by nobility and skilled artists.
Today, ultramarine blue extracted from lapis lazuli still commands prices exceeding $60 per ounce, making it significantly more expensive than traditional colors.
How is this unique color extracted and transformed into a pigment for artworks?
The process begins in remote mountainous mines in Afghanistan, where lapis lazuli is extracted.
This process is highly complex, requiring repeated grinding of the stone, followed by chemical treatment to eliminate other minerals that could alter the color.
Pine resins are then added to the mixture, which is formed into small lapis lazuli beads.
After drying for several days, the mixture is ground and washed multiple times to intensify the ultramarine color.
This intricate process produces the natural blue that can significantly enhance the material value of artworks.
According to pigment manufacturer Muhammad Irfan, who operates a workshop in Canada, using this color in paintings can dramatically increase their value, potentially raising the price from $100 to $5,000, as many art enthusiasts believe that works containing this color are more original and valuable.
Although natural blue is not a color required for everyday life, museums and art owners rely on it to bestow immense artistic and financial value to their works.
This color is viewed as a genuine investment in the art world, symbolizing wealth and uniqueness, making it a favorite among both artists and collectors.
In conclusion, this rare color illustrates how a simple natural element—the lapis lazuli stone—can transform into a valuable asset in the art world, making natural blue not just a color, but a symbol of value and distinction.
