red orpiment
Byzantium
14th Century
Source: Martelli, Matteo. "Late Byzantine Alchemical Recipe Books," pp. 356-360.
Recipe Details
Ingredients
soap, sulphur, red orpiment, water, clear vinegar, silver
Preparation Steps
Take 2 unciae each of soap, sulphur, and red orpiment. These are boiled in a bowl with water and clear vinegar. Silver (2 unciae) is fired and added to the boiling mixture. Upon striking with a hammer, metal flakes peel off, which are then counterbalanced and mixed back with the alloy to double the quantity of silver (p. 358).
Original Recipe Text
Take 2 unciae each of soap, sulphur, and red orpiment. These are boiled in a bowl with water and clear vinegar. Silver (2 unciae) is fired and added to the boiling mixture. Upon striking with a hammer, metal flakes peel off, which are then counterbalanced and mixed back with the alloy to double the quantity of silver (p. 358).
Evidence
"Take soap, sulphur, and red orpiment, 2 unciae each; pour water and clear vinegar in a bowl and boil the above-mentioned ingredients together"
Remarks
This recipe (Recipe 7) is part of a series for multiplying silver (argyropoeia). The mention of soap (satounitzin/sapounitzin) reflects Late Byzantine terminology (Note 102, p. 358).
Scientific Analysis
Chemical CompositionAs4S4
Analytical Techniques
Textual edition
Translation
Philological analysis
Certainty Level
Inferred
Instrumentally Verified
Not Verified
Metadata
Material Type
pigment
Binderclear vinegar
ColorRed
RegionByzantium
Approx. Year1350
Source Information
AuthorMartelli, Matteo. "Late Byzantine Alchemical Recipe Books," pp. 356-360.
CollectionLate Byzantine Alchemical Recipe Books (Recipe 7)
Language
N/A
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