natural ultramarine blue

Ingredients

lapis lazuli, smalt, azurite, realgar

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Bright blue ink based on lapis lazuli and one part enamel (smalt) according to the treatise of Umdat al-kuttab (p. 94). Azurite was used with a copper salt base instead of iron sulphate (p. 95).

Evidence

"Blue inks: two kinds of blue ink have been identifi ed with a common pigment on both occasions, namely natural ultramarine blue, a silicate of variable composition"

Remarks

Lapis lazuli originated from Afghanistan and was frequently used in Arabic art due to healthy commerce (p. 93). In book 10, smalt (cobalt glass) and azurite were also identified (p. 93-94). Realgar may have been added to obtain a violet hue (p. 93).