minium (سيلقون)

Ingredients

minium, borax, gum arabic, solution of gall-nut

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The procedure for making this pink ink involves taking one ūqiyya of minium (سيلقون) and crushing it on a slab of stone (على بلاطة). To this is added the weight of a dirham of borax (بورق) and two dirhams of gum arabic (صمغ). The mixture is then kneaded (يدلك) until it becomes fine while being soaked with a solution of gall-nut (بماء العفص). Finally, the recipe notes that it is ready for writing. (p. 113-114).

Evidence

"Title (MM II.18) صفة حبر وردي Description of a pink ink ... Ingredient I سيلقون of minium ... Ingredient II بورق of borax ... Ingredient III صمغ of gum arabic ... Ingredient IV بماء العفص with a solution of gall-nut"

Remarks

This entry comes from the treatise Al-muḫtaraʿ fī funūn min al-ṣunaʿ by the Rasulid sultan al-Malik al-Muẓaffar Yūsuf al-Ġassānī (d. 694/1294). The author notes the recipe's structure reflects a common scheme involving the definition of the product, ingredients, quantities, procedural phases, and intended use. (p. 113).