Mosaic Gold
PY38
Alternate Names
Purporino
Tin Sulfide
Pigment Description
A bit of confusion surrounds this name space. The name Mosaic Gold can refer to a couple of different colors. We rely rather heavily on Artiscreation and Cameo as sources are sparse. On Cameo they note that Mosaic Gold was used in manuscript illumination as an inexpensive gold, and it may have a subtle shine. It seems to have been replaced by brass powder, and one rarely encounters this pigment code. In the comments on Artiacreation, he notes, " The term "mosaic gold" is also used to designate an alloy consisting of 65.3% copper and 34.7% zinc," which is also mentioned on Cameo as a brass alloy.
Artiscreation lists PY38 as Tin Sulphide, which has a number of chemical names in the composition. The top two are, "Tin(IV) Sulfide Berndtite and Tin Sulphide (SnS2)."
We've seen some pigment sellers offer this as Mosaic Gold as well.
On Cameo, it's noted that it refers to a pigment made of Stannic sulphide.
Resources
PY38 pigment data from David G. Myers, The Color of Art Pigment Database, Artiscreation.com
CAMEO Materials Database: Conservation & Art Materials Encyclopedia Online, Museum of Fine Arts Boston. (Accessed June 2025). Mosaic Gold https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Mosaic_gold. Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
Stats
Transparency
Semi-Transparent
Toxicity
Toxic
Monona Rossol’s work states “toxic by ingestion.” Contains sulfides and tin. More on hazards of sulfides and or tin in pigments may be found in her latest book or through her site.
Chemical Name
Tin(IV) sulfide / Stannic Sulphide
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