Armenian bole,also known asbolus armenusorbole armoniac,is an earthyclay,usually red, native toArmeniabut also found in other places. The term Armenian was later referred to a specific quality of the clay. Originally used in medication, it has also been used as a pigment, as a poliment or base for gilding, and for other uses.[1]It is red due to the presence ofiron oxide;the clay also contains hydroussilicatesofaluminumand possiblymagnesium.
Uses
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Historically, the term bolu or bolus was used only for medicinal earths and Armenian bole was used as anastringent,prescribed againstdiarrhea,dysentery,andbleeding.[2]References to Armenian bole were made byTheophrastus,Dioscorides(c. 41–90 AD) andPliny the Elder(23–79 AD).[3]Externally, it was used in strengthening plasters, against dislocations of the joints. Physicians sometimes also called itRubrica Synopica,from the city ofSynope,where it is supposed to be found. Use for internal medicine may have side effects as the minerals often include heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and zinc that can cause toxicity.[4]
In the nineteenth century, it was incorporated into non-solubletooth powder.These types of powders would get stuck between the gums and the teeth and leave an unsightly discoloration. As a result, they were coloured red using Armenian bole to disguise the buildup around the teeth.[5]
It is also used inbookbindingfor coloring, or applied to the edges duringgilding,as a base for the gold leaf and to give the binding a greater depth and luster.[6][1]In pottery, it is used as a red pigment for theİznik potteryof Turkey.[7]Finally, it has also been used in the waterproofing ofwindmillsails. A popular mixture was: 10 liters of water, combined with 0.75 liter linseed oil, 0.75 liter grease, and 1 kg of bolus.[8][9]
See also
edit- Levant bole,a similar clay, often used in place of Armenian bole
References
edit- ^abGreenfield, Jane (2002).ABC of bookbinding: a unique glossary with over 700 illustrations for collectors and librarians.New Castle (Del.) Nottingham (GB): Oak Knoll press The Plough press. p. 5.ISBN978-1-884718-41-0.
- ^Hosseinkhani A; Montaseri H; Mohagheghzadeh A; Seradj H; Sodaifi M. (2014). "Armenian bole: a historical medicinal clay".Pharmaceutical Historian.44(4): 98–100.PMID25966606.
- ^Gomes, Celso de Sousa Figueiredo (2018). "Healing and edible clays: a review of basic concepts, benefits and risks".Environmental Geochemistry and Health.40(5): 1739–1765.doi:10.1007/s10653-016-9903-4.ISSN0269-4042.PMID28150053.
- ^Hosamo, Ammar; Zarshenas, Mohammad Mehdi; Mehdizadeh, Alireza; Zomorodian, Kamiar; Khani, Ayda Hossein (2016)."The Effect of Traditional Treatments on Heavy Metal Toxicity of Armenian Bole".Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences.41(3 Suppl): S65.ISSN0253-0716.PMC5103575.PMID27840531.
- ^Foulk, Martha E.; Pickering, Elizabeth (1935). "A History of Dentrifices".Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association.24(11): 975.
- ^Barata, C.; Rocha, F.; Cruz, A.J.; Andrejkovičová, S.; Reguer, S. (2015). "Synchrotron X-ray diffraction of bole layers from Portuguese gilded baroque retables".Applied Clay Science.116–117: 39–45.doi:10.1016/j.clay.2015.08.012.
- ^Hradil, David; Hradilová, Janka; Bezdička, Petr; Serendan, Cristina (2017). "Late Gothic/early Renaissance gilding technology and the traditional poliment material" Armenian bole ": Truly red clay, or rather bauxite?".Applied Clay Science.135:271–281.doi:10.1016/j.clay.2016.10.004.
- ^Werken met molens by Werkgroep West-Vlaamse Molens v.z.w.
- ^Bolus used for windmill sail