الزنجفر (Cinnabar)

Ingredients

زنجفر (Cinnabar/Vermilion), ماء الشب (Alum water), خل خمر (Wine vinegar), كبريت فارسي (Persian sulfur)

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Good cinnabar is finely crushed on a stone slab using alum water. It is then further ground with wine vinegar until it reaches the consistency of ink. It is stored in a glass vessel. To produce a white effect on a black background, a complex process involving heating sulfur in ceramic vessels near the writing is described, which causes the smoke to interact with the mineral to change its appearance (p. 150-151).

Evidence

"تأخذ الزنجفر الجيد فتسحقه على بلاطة سحقاً جيداً ناعماً وتنضجه بعد المبالغة في سحقه بخل خمر حتى يكون شبيهاً بالحبر"

Remarks

The author notes that this ink 'hangs to the pen quickly' (يعلق بالقلم سريعاً) and produces a bright, radiant black/red effect depending on the treatment (p. 150). The section discusses writing 'white on black' which may refer to a resist or transformative chemical process involving sulfur vapors (p. 151).