gold; (oxidized) gold; yellow

Ingredients

gold, yellow pigment

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Pigments are used primarily for illumination and borders. Acad. 35 (p. 21) contains crudely illuminated borders featuring tree and flower patterns using red, yellow, and gold pigments (p. 147). This manuscript also utilizes gold borders enclosed within black lines and a simple gold headpiece on p. 21 (p. 147). Acad. 38 shows gold used for edges and crude headpieces in combination with black (p. 149). Acad. 45 contains 'tables and diagrams in gold, black, red and blue' (p. 153). Acad. 49 features 'tables in black, gold and red' with multiple gold borders within black lines (p. 155, 156).

Evidence

"(፧) crudely illuminated borders in red, yellow and (oxidized) gold with tree and flfower patterns; (፨) headings, rubrics and dots in red; gold borders within black lines and a simple headpiece, equally in gold, on p. 21 (p. 147)"

Remarks

Significant degradation is noted for the gold pigment in these samples. The gold in Acad. 35 is specifically described as '(oxidized) gold' (p. 147). In Acad. 38, the gold borders on pp. 1-20 are described as 'discoloured gold' (p. 149). These descriptions suggest either a low-carat gold alloy or the presence of a metallic leaf that has reacted to the environment. The illumination in Acad. 35 is characterized as 'crudely illuminated' on p. 147.