golden sparkles

Ingredients

starch paste, gold

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Designers and calligraphers modified the surface of the paper after production. Sizing was done using starch paste, during which process the artisans would tint the paper to specific colors like peach or cream (p. 9, 12). Golden sparkles were added to the surface for decorative effect in royal manuscripts (p. 12).

Evidence

"In that way designers of manuscripts could tint the paper to a desirable color, add golden sparkles or glue sheets together to achieve a desirable thickness of paper."

Remarks

Visual appearance was often prioritized over the technical quality of the base paper pulp. In the 13th century, Italian papermakers (such as those in Fabriano) learned to tint their snowy white paper to the creamy and peachy colors preferred by Islamic calligraphers to capture the Mediterranean market (p. 9). Decorators in workshops (kitabhana) would often glue multiple sheets together to achieve the thickness required for paintings (p. 12).