zaffre, zaffer
(ˈzæfə(r))
Also (7 zaphara, saffera), 9 saffre, saffer, (zaffira, suphara).
[ad. It. zaffera (Neri) or F. zafre, safre (12–13th c.); cf. Sp. zafre, safre, G. zaffer, zaffra: of uncertain origin.]
An impure oxide of cobalt, obtained by roasting cobalt-ore, and used in the preparation of smalt and as a blue colouring-matter (cobalt blue) for pottery, glass, etc.
| 1662 Merrett tr. Neri's Art of Glass xii, Take Zaffer in gross pieces. 1686 Phil. Trans. XVI. 26 Smalt is made of Zaffer and Pot-ashes. 1693 tr. Blancard's Phys. Dict. (ed. 2), Zaphara or Saffera. 1745 Watson in Phil. Trans. XLIII. 497 Zaffer, which is used by the Glass-makers and Enamellers, is made of Cobalt..calcined after the subliming the Flowers. 1804 tr. Tingry's Paint. & Varn. Guide 301 Smalt, or vitreous oxide of cobalt, is saffer reduced to blue glass by the action of a violent fire. 1843 Poe Tales, Gold-Bug, Zaffre, digested in aqua regia, and diluted with four times its weight of water, is sometimes employed; a green tint results. 1912 Contemp. Rev. Dec. 860 The Egyptian porcelain..manufacturer, who used for the zaffre the Cyprus blue-stone. |