"Color is all around us; we take it for granted as a naturally occurring element of all things. Yet colors are also manufactured, and the science of pigments, hues, and dyes has an ancient and fascinating history. From the painted caves at Lascaux, 40,000 years old, to the medieval cloth trade that enriched Europe to the synthetic chemistry of today, the history of color making has had a central place in our lives. This book surveys the history of dyes and pigments, the invention of new colors, and the industries fueled by them. What were the colors of ancient Egypt? Where do indigo and ocher come from? Why is purple the color of royalty? What are pastels? How many colors are there? Why do we dye our food? Who invented ink? What are white and black made of ? What is the symbolism of yellow? From cerise to heliotrope, from gamboge to periwinkle, this book is as rich, varied, and delightful as a box of crayons." --Back cover.