white lead

Ingredients

Chinese oil, sandarac, white lead

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Chinese oil is prepared with sandarac. Finely ground white lead is mixed into the oil. The mixture is painted onto silk thread bound to hair. It is left to dry until it becomes hard and looks like white marble.

Evidence

"Then, Chinese oil prepared with sandarac is taken, and finely ground white lead $^{(2)}$ is mixed into the oil, then it is painted onto the silk thread bound to the hair, and it is left until it dries and becomes like white marble in hardness and beauty. If it is washed [with water] $^{(3)}$, it does not change or dissolve."

Remarks

This recipe describes a method for creating a durable, white coating on silk thread using white lead and an oil-based binder containing sandarac.