Painted plasters of Malaccan buildings

In order to characterize pigments and binder used in some painted layers of the external walls of the Cheng Hoon Teng temple (Melaka) some analysis have been carried out such as optical and electron microscopy, XRF and FTIR. Results show that the binder was made mixing calcic lime with milk, while as pigment was used natural ultramarine blue that is “Lapislazuli”. A very expensive pigment that in Europe has been replaced by artificial ultramarine since 1825. Analyses show also that use of a blue pigment was an intentional choice. Furthermore, use of natural ultramarine underline importance of this temple and suggest a symbolic meaning for this color.