White FLAKE, in painting, is lead corroded by means of the pressing of grapes, or a cerus prepared by the acid of grapes. It is brought here from Italy; and far surpasses, both with regard to the purity of its
whiteness and the certainty of its standing, all the cerus or white lead made with us in common. It is used in oil and varnish painting for all purposes where a very clean white is required. The white flake should be procured in lumps as it is brought over, and levigated by those who use it; because that which the colourmen sell in a prepared state is levigated and mixed up with starch, and often with white lead, and worse sophistications.