s sometimes used for a factions black; as lamp-black, shoe-black, &c. A mixture of ivory or lamp-black with linseed-oil makes the common oil blacking. For a shining blacking, small-beer or water is used instead of oil, in the proportion of about a pint to an ounce of the ivory-black, with the addition of half an ounce of brown sugar, and as much gum arabic. The white of an egg substituted for the gum makes the black more shining; but is supposed to hurt the leather, and make it apt to crack.