orpiment and indigo; orpiment and copper (II) sulphate; saffron and copper (II) sulphate

Ingredients

orpiment, copper (II) sulphate, gall juice, saffron, indigo

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Three distinct formulations are identified for Ottoman green inks: 1) A mixture of orpiment and copper (II) sulphate; 2) A mixture of gall juice and copper (II) sulphate; and 3) A mixture of saffron and copper (II) sulphate (p. 7). Additionally, mixing orpiment and indigo was a known technique in the Islamic world during the 14th century (p. 7).

Evidence

"There were three types of green inks in Ottomans as mentioned in resources about the Ottoman calligraphy; mixture of orpiment and copper (II) sulphate, mixture of gall juice and copper (II) sulphate and mixture of saffron and copper (II) sulphate (Nefeszade, 1938)."

Remarks

The text highlights that the use of orpiment and indigo to produce green was a widespread practice across both the Islamic world and 15th-century Europe (p. 7).