Glossary: Chinese white

Sometimes known as zinc white, "Chinese White" was introduced to England in the early 19th Century, the name probably coming from the white base paint used on the already white Chinese porcelain. The term is used both to describe a white paint, important because of its highlighting qualities, or as the base for gouache, watercolour mixed with Chinese White. The inclusion of Chinese White in Gouache allows the paint to stay thickly on the surface of the paper and the colour not to fade.