Arabic paper

Ingredients

rope, cloth, linen, cotton, calcite, dolomite, rice starch, wheat starch, corn starch

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The pulp underwent fermentation and treatment in a lime solution. Sizing in the Arab world used rice, wheat, or corn starches applied with a brush after polishing (p. 82). Yellow dyes were obtained by boiling figs, hay, or saffron; red dyes were prepared from Brazil wood (p. 82).

Evidence

"In Arabic papermaking, the pulp underwent fermentation and additionally a treatment in a lime solution that was intended to whiten the pulp. Raw materials treated in this fashion consisted of pieces of rope and cloth previously beaten and defi bred."

Remarks

Arabic papers are characterized by a long and little-refined pulp (p. 86). Limestone in nature tends to contain mixtures of calcium and magnesium (calcite and dolomite), used as filler to improve whiteness and reduce absorbency (p. 86). Chlorine was detected in ten out of 17 books, possibly from water salt content or damp storage (p. 87).