ultramarine (possible)

Tunisia
10th Century
Source: George, A. (2007). Calligraphy, Colour and Light in the Blue Qur’an. Journal of Qur’anic Studies, 9(1), 78-110.
Recipe Details

Ingredients

dark brown ink, lāzaward, ultramarine

Preparation Steps

The ink is used as a secondary application to outline the primary gold text (p. 114, n. 17). The color is generally dark brown in existing specimens, though historical descriptions (e.g., Kitāb al-Hadāya wa al-Tuḥaf) imply the use of lapis lazuli/ultramarine for outlining (p. 114-115, n. 30).

Original Recipe Text

The ink is used as a secondary application to outline the primary gold text (p. 114, n. 17). The color is generally dark brown in existing specimens, though historical descriptions (e.g., Kitāb al-Hadāya wa al-Tuḥaf) imply the use of lapis lazuli/ultramarine for outlining (p. 114-115, n. 30).

Evidence

"Extant Kufic manuscripts written in gold have their letters outlined in dark brown ink, and it is possible that this was sometimes done in blue, as put forward by Stanley."

Remarks

Lapis lazuli is often used in Arabic sources as a generic term for dark blue rather than a specific chemical material (p. 123, n. 134). The brown line occasionally runs across the gold, proving its subsequent application (p. 114, n. 17).

Scientific Analysis
Analytical Techniques
close observation
Certainty Level
Inferred
Instrumentally Verified
Not Verified
Metadata
Material Type
ink
Paper TypeParchment
ColorBrown
RegionTunisia
Approx. Year950
Source Information
AuthorGeorge, A.
CollectionThe Blue Qur’an
Language
N/A
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