This ancient incense burner was once painted with vibrant colors. How do we know for sure? Keep reading. See the glowing area in the black and white image? That shows traces of Egyptian blue. Conservators use a technique called "visible-induced luminescence imaging" to capture what cannot be seen with the naked eye. When visible light is shined onto the Egyptian blue pigment it emits light in the infrared, captured in a digital image. The earliest known uses of this synthesized pigment date back to around 4,500 years ago in Egypt. Pigment identification can help researchers with questions about age, authenticity, trade routes, and artist techniques. 🌈 The more you know. #Pigments #ArtHistory #Antiquities #AncientArt #EgyptianBlue