iron-gall ink

Iberia
13th Century
Source: Melo, M. J., et al. (2024). Alfonso X's Scriptorium and the Ajuda Songbook: A Comparative Study of Materials and Techniques. Heritage, 7.
Recipe Details

Ingredients

iron, tannins

Preparation Steps

In the Rich codex and Musicians’ codex, iron-gall ink was used for delicate strokes of features (eyes) over the main color. In the Book of Games, it was used for hand outlines in combination with carbon-based black (p. 292).

Original Recipe Text

In the Rich codex and Musicians’ codex, iron-gall ink was used for delicate strokes of features (eyes) over the main color. In the Book of Games, it was used for hand outlines in combination with carbon-based black (p. 292).

Evidence

"one of the illuminators paints with delicate strokes of iron-gall ink over the main color... for both manuscripts, the hands appear to have been created by one of the illuminators, where the lines were obtained with iron-gall ink"

Remarks

Used by specific illuminators to define features and hands with high delicacy. In the Book of Games, it is one of two outlines found on hands, the other being carbon-based black (p. 292).

Scientific Analysis
Analytical Techniques
Raman
infrared spectroscopy
Certainty Level
Confirmed
Instrumentally Verified
Verified
Metadata
Material Type
ink
ColorBlack
RegionIberia
Approx. Year1250
Source Information
AuthorMelo, M. J., et al.
CollectionRich codex, Musicians’ codex, Book of Games
Language
N/A
AI Suggestions
Find similar recipes based on ingredients and preparation methods.
    iron-gall ink (13th Century) | Islamic Ink Atlas